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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 11/02/2025 12:42 AM
Question 20100056
Inquiry Details
References:
Heme & Lymph Manual & DB
Question:
Primary site/Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How are these fields coded for a case with pathologic diagnosis of "anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-negative" involving the brain and a clinical statement of involvement in the right inguinal lymph nodes and the right lower extremity by a cutaneous lymphoma? See Discussion.
Discussion:
The final diagnosis on the pathology report for a brain biopsy is "Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-negative." Per a progress note: right inguinal lymphadenopathy. CT scan is consistent with multiple lymph node groups enlarged. Right lower extremity cutaneous nodular lesion; cutaneous lesions likely cutaneous lymphoma.
Should the histology be coded 9702/3 [anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-negative], and the primary site C447 [skin of leg]? Or is the physician using "cutaneous lymphoma" as a general term indicating infiltration and the primary site is really C779 [lymph nodes, NOS]?
Answer:
For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Code to primary site to C447 [skin of leg]) per Rule PH25 and histology to 9702/3 [anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-negative]. Per the Abstractor Notes section in Heme DB, these are the usual presentations for this disease. It also states this disease presents with peripheral node involvement and is often generalized with infiltrates in the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and extranodal tissue. Less frequently involved sites are lung, salivary gland and CNS.
Per PH25, code the primary site to the organ when the lymphoma is present in an organ (skin, right leg) and that organ's regional lymph nodes (inguinal). Distant lymph nodes or other organs may also be involved, but should be disregarded for coding primary site.
SEER*Educate provides training on how to use the Heme Manual and DB. If you are unsure how to arrive at the answer in this SINQ question, refer to SEER*Educate to practice coding hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms. Review the step-by-step instructions provided for each case scenario to learn how to use the application and manual to arrive at the answer provided. https://educate.fhcrc.org/LandingPage.aspx.
History:
This SINQ question has been updated to the Hematopoietic & Lymphoid Neoplasm Manual & Database published January 2014.
The original answer below was written based on the rules in 2010
Your choice of coding 9702/3 [anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-negative] is correct. See the Abstractor Notes in the 2010 Hematopoietic Database on the usual presentations for this disease. According to the Abstractor Notes this disease presents with peripheral node involvement and is often generalized with infiltrates in the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and extranodal tissue. Less frequently involved sites are lung, salivary gland and CNS.
Now that you have the information that a presentation in nodes and skin is not unusual, and you know that brain is a common metastatic site, go to the 2010 Hemato Manual. After you finished reviewing the reportability requirements and the MP rules, go to module 7 in the PH rules, Primary Site Rules for Lymphomas Only. Per PH35, code the primary site to the organ when the lymphoma is present in an organ (skin, rt leg) and that organ's regional lymph nodes (inguinal). So the primary site would be coded to skin of leg [C447].
The answers for SINQ questions with 2010 ID numbers were written using the 2010 Heme & Lymph Manual & DB. The instructions for using the 2010 Hematopoietic Database were written for the version of the software in use as of 5/24/2011. The user interface of the web-based 2010 Hematopoietic Database available from the SEER website varies slightly from the 5/24/2011 version in that the web-based version provides all the disease information in one scrollable window.
For cases diagnosed 2010-2011, access the 2010 Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/tools/heme/. Click on Hematopoietic Project. Click on Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Database. For 2010-2011 diagnoses, click on the "use the 2010 database" label in the upper right corner of the screen. The 2010 Hematopoietic Coding Manual (PDF) button will appear to indicate the correct version of the program is available now for query.
