Classification schemes for tumors diagnosed in adolescents and young adults

The International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O) is a collaborative undertaking of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Cancer Institute in the U.S., under the aegis of the World Health Organization. Although the ICD-O system generally is applicable to cancer diagnosed in childhood, it is recognized that morphology takes precedence over topography in classifying neoplasms occurring in children. Consequently, a classification scheme has been proposed that although based on the ICD-O is tailored to the particular circumstances of adolescents and young adults with cancer. © 2006 American Cancer Society.