ABSTRACT
Staging of cancer is based on clinical or pathological findings, which imply the extent of the disease itself. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system is based on the TNM system, where T refers to tumor, N to nodes, and M to metastasis. Nodal staging describes the spread to axillary lymph nodes. All invasive breast carcinomas should be assigned histologic grade by using the Scarff–Bloom–Richardson grading system, which includes tubule formation, nuclear pleomorphism, and calibrated mitotic count, which are assigned a value from 1 to 3 for each feature. Genomic profiles may be done for appropriate treatment. A decrease in either or both T or N category compared to clinical (pretreatment) assignment and with no increase in either T or N. Clinical response is based on history, physical exam, and available imaging studies.
