Evolution of TNM Classification for Clinical Staging of Oral Cancer: The Past, Present and the Future

PurposeThe AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) Cancer Staging Manual, 1st Edition, was published in 1977 which focused on the TNM classification and staging of cancer to allow easy communication, formulation of a treatment plan and predict the prognosis, among the medical fraternity.MethodsEver since the beginning, various modifications of the classification were introduced and released by the joint collaboration of AJCC and UICC (International Union Against Cancer) in various editions of cancer staging manuals.ResultsThe present review article was kept focused onto the changes introduced in the clinical staging of cancers of oral cavity. These changes came a long way since 1st edition 1944, to the eighth edition which was published in 2017.ConclusionsThis article is a critical review on the past and present perspectives of the TNM classification of the oral cavity that were addressed and changed, adding a light on the future trends or necessary inclusions that would formulate a much easily acceptable and useful classification system.