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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 02/28/2026 7:34 AM
Question 20031024
Inquiry Details
References:
#1: SEER Program Code Man, 3rd Ed, 126b, 127b, 129b. January 2003
#2: 2004 SEER Manual, 179-181
Question:
Surgical Fields--Head & Neck: How does one code the removal of benign submandibular and sublingual glands performed during a neck dissection for a head and neck cancer? See discussion.
Discussion:
Should the removal be coded as incidental in the surgical Procedure if the Other Site field? Does it make a difference if the submandibular gland is removed en toto with lymph nodes or if the gland is submitted as a separate specimen? Does it make a difference if the glands are involved?
Answer:
Removal of the lower salivary glands is part of a radical neck dissection and is not recorded in Surgery of Primary Site or Surgery of Other Site. Radical neck dissection is coded under "Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery."
It does not matter whether or not the gland is submitted as a separate specimen. It does not matter whether or not the gland is involved.
Cancer Site Category:
Head & Neck
Data Item Category:
Surgery of Primary Site
Other Category:
N/A
Year:
2003
