SEER Inquiry System - Question 20031202 Details

System Guide

Back to Search Results

SEER Inquiry System - Report

Produced: 11/22/2024 8:35 PM

Question 20031202

Export CSV Export PDF Print

Add to Report

Inquiry Details

References:

#1: SEER App F, 2003+ Surg Codes, F-2. Jan 2003

#2: 2004 SEER Manual, C-143

Question:

Surgery of Primary Site--Head & Neck: How is this field coded for a surgery titled "Parotidectomy with facial nerve dissection"? See Description.

Discussion:

If the operative report is not titled "total parotidectomy," can we assume that less than total parotidectomy was done? Can we assume that "facial nerve dissection" and "facial nerve monitoring" are other ways of stating "facial nerve spared"?

Answer:

Use the best information available to determine whether or not all of the parotid has been removed. It is important to read the entire operative report and review the content of the pathology report. The Op report will usually include wording about how much was removed, and this can be confirmed by the path report. Do not make assumptions about the extent of the surgery based solely on the title used on the operative report.

For cases diagnosed 1998-2003: Code 30 [less than total parotidectomy] can be used when the parotid is not totally removed, but the exact type of partial parotidectomy cannot be determined. "Facial nerve monitoring" and "Facial nerve dissection" are synonymous with "facial nerve sparing."

Cancer Site Category:

Head & Neck

Data Item Category:

Surgery of Primary Site

Other Category:

N/A

Year:

2003