SEER Inquiry System - Question 20010029 Details

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SEER Inquiry System - Report

Produced: 10/31/2025 4:17 AM

Question 20010029

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Inquiry Details

References:

#1: SEER Program Code Man, 3rd Ed, 103

#2: 2004 SEER Manual, 95, C-583

Question:

Grade, Differentiation--All Sites: Can "Fuhrman nuclear grade" be coded if it is the only grade given for a kidney primary, or is breast the only site for which we can use a nuclear grade in coding the Grade, Differentiation field? See discussion.

Discussion:

Our pathologist consultant disagrees with coding nuclear grade for any site because it is only a component of the grade, in most cases, and is not adequate to use by itself.

If the Fuhrman nuclear grade system can be used by coders, will a conversion table for the system be added to the coding documentation by SEER in the future?

Answer:

For cases diagnosed 2004 and later: Fuhrman grade can be used to code the Grade, Differentiation field.

History:

For cases diagnosed 1998-2003:

Fuhrman grade cannot be used to code the Grade, Differentiation field. The Fuhrman system represents a nuclear grade that does not reflect the biologic activity of the tumor as a whole. As a result, SEER will not be adding a conversion table for Fuhrman grade in our coding documentation.

When it is the only grading system mentioned in the pathology report, a nuclear grade can be coded solely for breast primaries.

Cancer Site Category:

N/A

Data Item Category:

N/A

Other Category:

N/A

Year:

2001