As part of the diagnostic evaluation of a child with cancer, biopsies are important for staging. What statement explains what staging means?

As part of the diagnostic evaluation of a child with cancer, biopsies are important for staging. What statement explains what staging means?

a.
Extent of the disease at the time of diagnosis
b.
Rate normal cells are being replaced by cancer cells
c.
Biologic characteristics of the tumor or lymph nodes
d.
Abnormal, unrestricted growth of cancer cells producing organ damage

ANS: A

Staging is a description of the extent of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Staging criteria exist for most tumors. The stage usually relates directly to the prognosis; the higher the stage, the poorer the prognosis. The rate that normal cells are being replaced by cancer cells is not a definition of staging. Classification of the tumor refers to the biologic characteristics of the tumor or lymph nodes. Abnormal, unrestricted growth of cancer cells producing organ damage describes how cancer cells grow and can cause damage to an organ.