AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 6th edition

Abstract

Introduction The AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition Staging Form Supplement includes 104 printable staging forms for each distinct staging system published by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). These printable forms may be used by physicians to record data on T, N, and M categories; prognostic stage groups; additional prognostic factors; histologic grade; and other important information. These forms may be useful for recording information in the medical record and for communicating information from physicians to the cancer registrar. The staging forms may be used to document cancer stage at different points in the patient's care and during the course of therapy, including the time before therapy begins, after surgery and completion of all staging evaluations, or at the time of recurrence. It is best to use a separate form for each time point staged along the continuum for an individual cancer patient. However, if all time points are recorded on a single form, the staging basis for each element should be identified clearly. The cancer staging form is a specific document in the patient record; it is not a substitute for documentation of history, physical examination, and staging evaluation, or for documenting treatment plans or follow-up. The staging forms available in conjunction with the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition may be used by individuals without permission from the ACS or the publisher. The staging forms cannot be sold, distributed, published, or incorporated into any software (including any electronic record systems), product, or publication without a written license agreement with ACS. The forms cannot be modified, changed, or updated without the express written permission of ACS. Organization of This Supplement The staging forms in this supplement are numbered according to their corresponding chapters in the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition. 2 For example, chapter 6, Cervical Lymph Nodes and Unknown Primary Tumors of the Head and Neck is the first chapter in the manual that has data collection items, so it is the first staging form in this supplement. Some chapters have multiple staging forms as they describe distinct TNM, Prognostic Factors, and AJCC Prognostic Stage Groups for unique topographical sites, histologic types or a combination of the two. These forms may provide more data elements than required for collection by standard setters such as NCI SEER, CDC NPCR, and CoC NCDB.