Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

What does the TNM staging system classification TIS, N0, M0 indicate?

1. Can't assess tumor or regional lymph nodes and no evidence of metastasis.

2. Carcinoma in situ, no abnormal regional lymph nodes, and no evidence of distant metastasis.

3. Carcinoma in situ, no demonstrable metastasis of the regional lymph nodes, and ascending degrees of distant metastasis.

4. No evidence of primary tumor, no abnormal regional lymph nodes, and no evidence of distant metastasis.

The correct answer is: Carcinoma in situ, no abnormal regional lymph nodes, and no evidence of distant metastasis.

The classification of TIS, N0, and M0 in the TNM staging system specifically refers to a clear set of conditions regarding cancer staging. TIS stands for "carcinoma in situ," which indicates that the cancer is present only in the layer of cells where it began and has not invaded deeper tissues. This is crucial since it signifies an early stage of cancer that can often be treated more effectively if detected early. N0 indicates that there are no abnormal regional lymph nodes, meaning that the cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes, which is pivotal in determining the extent of the disease and potential treatment options. M0 denotes that there is no evidence of distant metastasis, signifying that the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Consequently, this combination of TIS, N0, and M0 indicates that the patient has localized disease confined to the site of origin without any indication of spread, either locally or distantly. This classification is significant as it typically allows for a more favorable prognosis and treatment plan, focusing on surgical intervention or localized therapies. The other options lack the specific alignment with the definitions provided by the TNM system. They either misinterpret the nature of the disease stage or introduce unrelated factors such