One of the more common systems for determining the stage of a patient's mesothelioma cancer is the TNM System, a relatively new system that is also known as the International Mesothelioma Interest Group staging system. The acronym of the system uses the first letter of each factor that is considered in order to stage the cancer.

T - refers to the tumor or primary mass;

N - refers to the presence or absence of mesothelioma tumors in the lymph nodes;

M - refers to the presence or absence of distant tumors, which is generally referred to as metastases.

As with most cancer staging systems, the TNM System uses four stages.

In Stage I, the masses are rigidly localized, having only grown in one layer of the pleura, or lungs. At this stage in development, the cancer may also have grown into the covering of the heart and the diaphragm on the same side.
In Stage II, the cancer has spread from the pleura to lymph nodes nearby the pleura on that side of the body. The cancer remains present on only side of the body.
In Stage III, the cancer may have spread into the lymph nodes, esophagus, muscle, ribs, heart, and the chest wall on the same side.
In Stage IV, the cancer has spread via the bloodstream to other regions of the body.

Sources:

http://www.cancerguide.org/basic.html
http://www.cancerstaging.org/mission/whatis.html
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/vumc.php?site=thoracic&doc=3594

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