AJCC Cancer Staging System

The AJCC Cancer Staging System is the gold standard to help the cancer patient management team determine the correct stage for patients, allowing for the most appropriate care plan.

The AJCC Cancer Staging System is used by physicians and health care professionals throughout the world to facilitate the uniform description and reporting of neoplastic diseases. Proper classification and staging of cancer are essential for the physician to assign proper treatment, evaluate results of management and clinical trials, and serve as the standard for local, regional, and international reporting on cancer incidence and outcome.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) made an important change to how it updates and releases Cancer Staging content. The AJCC shifted from a Cancer Staging Manual to a Cancer Staging System and moved away from Editions to Versions. Updated Version 9 disease sites go into effect on January 1 following their release.

The new AJCC Protocol Version 9 content is presented in a streamlined, easy-to-use format including synoptic staging report format, tables, explanatory notes, and illustrations. All disease sites in the 8th Edition Cancer Staging Manual remain current until replaced with Version 9. However, buyers of Version 9 receive the original, full Version 8 resource for continued reference.

Current Version 9 content includes the following disease sites with their effective dates.

• • Nasopharynx – Effective January 1, 2025
• • Thymus – Effective January 1, 2025
• • Lung – Effective January 1, 2025
• • Diffuse Pleural Mesothelioma – Effective January 1, 2025
• • Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Appendix – Effective January 1, 2024
• • Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Colon and Rectum – Effective January 1, 2024
• • Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Duodenum and Ampulla of Vater – Effective January 1, 2024
• • Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Jejunum and Ileum – Effective January 1, 2024
• • Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Pancreas – Effective January 1, 2024
• • Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Stomach – Effective January 1, 2024
• • Vulva – Effective January 1, 2024
• • Anus - Effective January 1, 2023
• • Appendix - Effective January 1, 2023
• • Brain and Spinal Cord - Effective January 1, 2023
• • Cervix Uteri – Effective January 1, 2022

The AJCC Cancer Staging System remains the gold standard reference for oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, cancer registrars, and medical professionals worldwide to ensure that all those caring for cancer patients are fully versed in the language of cancer staging.

This Title Updates: Yearly