An official website of the United States government
Home
SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 12/30/2025 3:50 PM
Question 20160017
Inquiry Details
References:
2022 SEER Manual. Surgery Codes - Skin, App C
Question:
Surgery of Primary Site--Melanoma: Please further explain the SEER Note under Melanoma surgery codes 30-36 for these two examples. Are both examples coded 31?
1. Shave bx: +melanoma in situ, +microscopic margins Wide excision: no residual melanoma in situ
2. Shave bx: melanoma, +microscopic margin Wide excision: Melanoma, margins negative (margin status negative but distance not stated)
Discussion:
Answer:
Revised answer: Assign surgery code 30 for both examples based on the SEER Note on the top of page 2 in the Surgery of Primary Site Codes for Skin: If it is stated to be a wide excision or reexcision, but the margins are unknown, code to 30.
History:
Previous Answer: Surgery code 31 is correct for both examples because the margins of excision are not known to be greater than 1 cm. Use code 45 when there is a wide excision AND it is known that the margins of excision are greater than 1 cm
