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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 09/17/2026 10:59 AM
Question 20120071
Inquiry Details
References:
Heme & Lymph Manual & DB
Question:
Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is the primary site coded and what rule applies if the patient has involvement of multiple organs and one lymph node chain with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma? See Discussion.
Discussion:
In 2011 the patient was diagnosed with a 15 cm mass involving the terminal ileum, cecum and adjacent mesentery. The pathology was positive for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. A staging PET/CT revealed a mass at the base of tongue and a left cervical lymph node. The biopsy of the base of tongue also showed DLBCL.
Answer:
For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Apply rule PH22 to code the primary site to C779 [lymph nodes, NOS].
While the pathology does not indicate that this particular case represents a B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable with features intermediate between DLBCL and Burkitt variant, in the Abstractor Notes section of the Heme DB for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma it does indicate that its presentation, "may have lesions in ileocecal region or jaws. Bone marrow and peripheral blood may be involved. Patients present with lymphadenopathy or mass lesions in extranodal site." This patient does have involvement of two extranodal sites and involvement of regional lymph nodes for only one of those sites.
PH22 indicates one is to code the primary site to C77.9 [lymph nodes, NOS] when lymphoma is present in multiple organs and lymph nodes that are not regional for that organ and the origin cannot be determined even after consulting the physician. There are two extranodal sites of involvement and only one chain of lymph nodes is regional to one of those sites so this rule applies.
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
For cases diagnosed 2010-2011, access the 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.
Apply rule PH36 and code the primary site to lymph nodes, NOS [C77.9]. The steps used to arrive at this decision are:
Enter in the Heme DB to find the histology. Click on the SEARCH button. Ensure that the term "diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)" [9680/3] is highlighted on the screen.
Check the PRIMARY SITE(S) section. No specific primary site is stated. There is a reference to the Abstractor Notes and Module 7.
Scroll down to the ABSTRACTOR NOTE section. While the pathology does not indicate that this is the B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable with features intermediate between DLBCL and Burkitt variant, the ABSTRACTOR NOTE does indicate that diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, "may have lesions in ileocecal region or jaws. Bone marrow and peripheral blood may be involved. Patients present with lymphadenopathy or mass lesions in extranodal site." This patient has involvement of two extranodal sites and involvement of regional lymph nodes for only one of those sites.
Click on the 2010 HEMATOPOIETIC CODING MANUAL (PDF) button. Once in the manual, locate one of the three formats (i.e., flowchart, matrix or text) to check the Primary Site and Histology Rules. The Heme DB PRIMARY SITE(S) information states Module 7 applies to DLBCL. The rules within the Module are intended to be reviewed in consecutive order. Start in Module 7, rule PH25 and stop at the first rule that applies to the case you are processing. Code the primary site to C77.9 [lymph nodes, NOS] when lymphoma is present in multiple organs and lymph nodes that are not regional for that organ and the origin cannot be determined even after consulting the physician. There are two extranodal sites of involvement and only one chain of lymph nodes is considered regional to one of those sites so this rule applies.
