TNM classification (Open Table in a new window) The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor/node/metastasis (TNM) classifications for oral cavity and laryngeal cancers are provided below, along with histologic grades and anatomic stages. Most hospitals and medical centers use the TNM system as their main method for cancer reporting. Abstract. The most commonly used staging systems for head and neck cancers are the TNM and number staging system. Globally, over 90% of malignancies affecting the mouth and maxillofacial region are oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), 80-90% of which are associated with tobacco and alcohol use. Staging means finding out how big the cancer is and if it has spread to other parts of your body. Staging and grading form cornerstone during cancer management. Grade: For most cancers, the grade is a measure of how abnormal the cancer cells look under the microscope. To do this, we created two description protocols for cancers: grading and staging. Grades are denoted by numbers 1 to 4. Staging is a way to describe how much cancer is in the body and where it is located. Staging is a clinical and histological determination that depends on the natural course of each particular type of cancer (O’Mary, 1993) and once a diagnosis of malignancy has been confirmed, the stage of the cancer must be ascertained. After cancer is diagnosed, healthcare provides need to learn as much as they can about it. T1 – The primary tumor is