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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 04/24/2026 12:22 PM
Question 20031154
Inquiry Details
References:
#1: SEER Program Code Man, 3rd Ed, 96. January 1998
#2: WHO Class Skin Tumors, 29. Second Edition
Question:
Date of Diagnosis/Histology (Pre-2007)/Behavior--Melanoma: How are these fields coded when the first shave biopsy finds "what appears to be the top of a melanoma" and a subsequent shave biopsy finds "features consistent with lentigo maligna?"
Discussion:
Answer:
For tumors diagnosed prior to 2007:
Evaluate each case using all available information, including all pathology reports. Use the date of the first biopsy because it did identify the melanoma. The second biopsy confirmed the histologic type.
According to WHO's Histological Typing of Skin Tumors, lentigo maligna melanoma is similar to lentigo maligna, but has dermal invasion by atypical melanocytes.
For tumors diagnosed 2007 or later, refer to the MP/H rules. If there are still questions about how this type of tumor should be coded, submit a new question to SINQ and include the difficulties you are encountering in applying the MP/H rules.
Cancer Site Category:
Melanoma
Data Item Category:
Date of diagnosis, Histology
Other Category:
N/A
Year:
2003
