Sarcoma Staging

Stage I

Divided into Stages IA and IB:

• Stage IA – the tumor is low-grade (likely to grow and spread slowly) and 5 centimeters or smaller. It may be either superficial (in subcutaneous tissue with no spread into connective tissue or muscle below) or deep (in the muscle and may be in connective or subcutaneous tissue).
• Stage IB – the tumor is low-grade (likely to grow and spread slowly) and larger than 5 centimeters. It may be either superficial or deep in the tissue.

Stage II

Divided into Stages IIA and IIB:

• Stage IIA – the tumor is mid-grade (somewhat likely to grow and spread quickly) or high-grade (likely to grow and spread quickly) and 5 centimeters or smaller. It may be either superficial or deep in the tissue.
• Stage IIB – the tumor is mid-grade (somewhat likely to grow and spread quickly) and larger than 5 centimeters. It may be either superficial or deep in the tissue.

Stage III

The tumor is either:

• High-grade (likely to grow and spread quickly), larger than 5 centimeters, and either superficial or deep in the tissue; or
• Any grade, any size, and has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IV

The tumor is any grade, any size, and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. Cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as the lungs.