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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 10/14/2025 5:46 AM
Question 20010091
Inquiry Details
References:
SEER Program Code Man, 3rd Ed, 123, 127
Question:
Surgical Procedure of Other Site: Is the excision of a distant lymph node or a fine needle aspirate (FNA) of a distant lymph node coded as a Surgical Procedure of Other Site, even though they are performed for diagnostic purposes and not intended as treatment?
Discussion:
Answer:
For cases diagnosed 1/1/2003 and after: Code the Surgical Procedure of Other Site field to 3 [Non-primary surgical procedure to distant lymph nodes] for an excision of a distant lymph node because it is a surgical procedure. However, if only a fine needle aspirate of a distant lymph node is done, code this field to 0 [None].
Fine needle aspirates of regional lymph nodes are the only FNA biopsies to be coded in a surgery field (Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery field). In addition, FNA biopsies of regional nodes are also included in the EOD-Number of Positive Regional and Examined Lymph Nodes fields.
History:
For cases diagnosed 1998-2002: Code Surgery of Other Regional Sites, Distant Sites or Distant Lymph Nodes to 3 for a distant lymph node biopsy. However, if only a FNA of a distant lymph node is done, code the field to 0.
Cancer Site Category:
Lymph nodes
Data Item Category:
First course treatment
Other Category:
N/A
Year:
2001
