Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M6896

TNM

TNM
SystemsHigh supportSystems Theory
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

T (Tumor): size and extent of the primary tumor; N (Node): regional lymph node involvement; M (Metastasis): distant metastasis.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Standardized language for cancer staging. A globally used tumor staging system that enables precise communication of disease severity among different doctors and hospitals.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Uses three dimensions—T (extent of primary tumor), N (regional lymph node metastasis), and M (distant metastasis)—to standardize the description of cancer progression. The combination of these three yields a stage (I–IV) that guides prognosis and treatment decisions. It is a universal language that allows precise communication across institutions.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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