title: Principles of Cancer Staging for Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology.
abstract: Cancer represents a complex group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and the ability to metastasize. Cancer may affect any part of the body, and within the female reproductive systems, there exist a variety of cancers each associated with different presenting symptoms, clinical course, etiology, and natural history of disease. The essential features of each cancer include the presenting site of disease (topography), the histopathologic (morphology), molecular and genetic tumor profile, and the anatomic disease extent (stage). Without knowing these features, it is impossible to discuss investigation, treatment, and prognosis in cancer.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: marykg@rmp.uhn.on.ca.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gospodarowicz
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brierley
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: disease extent; management scenario; prognosis; prognostic factor; staging; tumor profile