What Is a FIGO Stage?

Named after its founders, the International Federation of Gynecological Oncologists, FIGO staging is the classification of staging of cervical and ovarian cancer. The staging system is used to classify the location, type and size or amount of cancer growth in the ovarian and gynecological areas. The staging system is broken into four stages with subsidiary categories for each stage.

Stage 1

• FIGO Stage 1 is limited to one or both ovaries. Common symptoms often include weight loss, unexplained gynecological bleeding and unexplained hunger or problems eating. The maximum size of growth for Stage 1 ovarian cancer is a depth of no more than 5 mm and a width of no more than 7 mm. Stage 1A denotes that cancerous growth has been located in one ovary and that the ovary capsule is still intact. Stage 1A is absent of both tumorous growths and malignant cells found during chemical washes. Stage 1B involves both of the ovaries and an intact ovary capsule as well as negatives for both surface tumors and malignant surface cells. Stage 1C can involve both ovaries with a ruptured ovary cell as well as tumor on ovarian surface and malignant surface cells.

Stage 2

• Stage 2 of ovarian cancer is limited to pelvic implants or extensions and affects the vagina but does not penetrate the pelvic wall; it can be recognized by pelvic expansion, difficulty to eat, problems with urination or unexplained weight loss. Stage 2A includes extensions of tumor into the fallopian tube or uterus but negative peritoneal or pelvic washings. Stage 2B includes extensions of fallopian and uterus cancers into other pelvic areas but negative washings. Stage 3C is similar to 2b except the peritoneal washings register as positive.

Stage 3

• Stage 3 of ovarian cancer is found in the ovaries, uterus and pelvis with small outgrowths towards the small bowel or omentum, the growth has penetrated into both the pelvic sidewall, the lower vaginal area and the rectum. Stage 3A includes minute projection of metastases beyond the pelvis. Stage 3B is the classification of a macroscopic peritoneal metastases growth beyond the pelvis that is less than 2 cm in size. At stage 3C the growth is over 2 cm and has begun to affect lymph nodes.

Stage 4

• Stage 4 of ovarian cancer has begun to infect distant areas of the body including the liver, bladder and other non -peritoneal organs by parenchymal metastases. Stage 4A includes the spread to adjacent organs and stage 4B spreads to distant organs. This stage of ovarian cancer usually results in death.