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Produced: 11/25/2024 7:47 PM
Question 20120032
Inquiry Details
References:
2007 MP/H Rules
Question:
MP/H Rules/Histology--Melanoma: How is the histology coded for an invasive melanoma stated to have a "superficial spreading growth pattern"? See Discussion.
Discussion:
Some facilities in our reporting region submit pathology reports that document invasive melanoma cases with a subtype stated to be a "growth pattern." The MP/H rules state that we are not to use the term "pattern" to code the histology of invasive tumors. However, applying this rule means the more specific histology will not be recorded for any of these cases. Can the term "growth pattern" be a more specific histologic type for invasive melanomas when no other information is available?
Answer:
Code the histology as superficial spreading melanoma [8743/3]. For cases diagnosed 2007-2014, the steps used to arrive at this decision are:
Open the Multiple Primary and Histology Coding Rules manual. For a melanoma primary, use the Melanoma Histology rules to determine the histology code because there are site specific rules for cutaneous melanomas.
Start at Rule H1. The rules are intended to be reviewed in consecutive order within the applicable Module. Code the most specific histologic term when the diagnosis is melanoma, NOS [8720] with a single specific type, superficial spreading in this case. The subtype of this invasive melanoma is "superficial spreading."
A change will be made to Rule 9 in next update to indicate "growth pattern" can be used to describe an invasive histology.
