[TNM classification of malignant tumours, VII edition 2009. Changes and practical effects on cancer epidemiology].

The seventh edition of TNM classification of malignant tumours has been published by the International Union against Cancer in late 2009 and it is now available also in Italian language. This new edition introduces some major revisions and several updates of cancer staging rules. New criteria based on pathological details, biological assessment of lesions and new prognostic groupings have been established. Clinicians, pathologists, epidemiologists have now the chance to get familiar with those novelties, that are expected to be of great help in a moment like the present one, when strong evolutions occur in the strategies of diagnosis and of treatment of cancer.