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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 12/15/2025 6:11 AM
Question 20031173
Inquiry Details
References:
#1: SEER Program Code Man, 3rd Ed, 119. January 1998
#2: 2004 SEER Manual, 193
Question:
First Course Treatment/Hormone Therapy--Thyroid: Is hormone replacement therapy such as levothyroxine (Synthroid) for thyroid carcinoma coded as first course of treatment? See Discussion.
Discussion:
Examples:
Patient was admitted for thyroidectomy with a diagnosis of probable thyroid cancer. Patient's history stated that patient received work-up for hypothyroidism and was found to have thyroid nodule. Fine needle aspirate suggested carcinoma. Patient's medications included Cytomel and Synthroid.
Patient was given levothyroxine after thyroidectomy for medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Answer:
Updated December 2025
Do not code levothyroxine given to treat hypothyroidism or as cancer treatment for medullary carcinoma when given as replacement therapy and not as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy. Thyroid hormone therapy is generally coded as treatment for follicular, papillary, and oncocytic thyroid carcinomas.
