SEER Inquiry System - Question 20020008 Details

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Produced: 09/06/2025 8:35 AM

Question 20020008

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Inquiry Details

References:

#1: SEER App F, 2003+ Surg Codes, F-22. January 2003

#2: 2004 SEER Manual, C-485, C-486

Question:

Surgery of Primary Site--Breast: Does the presence of axillary lymph node(s) in a "simple mastectomy" specimen impact the coding of the Surgery of Primary Site field for breast primaries?

Discussion:

Answer:

Yes. Determine whether there is, in fact, at least a portion of axillary tissue present. If axillary lymph nodes (not internal mammary nodes) are present in the specimen, code the Surgery of Primary Site field to 51 [Modified Radical Mastectomy WITHOUT removal of uninvolved contralateral breast]. If there are no axillary lymph nodes present in the specimen, code the Surgery to Primary Site field to 41 [Total (simple) mastectomy WITHOUT removal of uninvolved contralateral breast].

Cancer Site Category:

Breast

Data Item Category:

Surgery of Primary Site

Other Category:

N/A

Year:

2002