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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 11/24/2025 7:45 AM
Question 20200043
Inquiry Details
References:
2018 SEER Manual. Appendix C Bladder Coding Guidelines
Question:
Histology/Behavior--Bladder: Is the behavior of a bladder tumor with low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma /2 or /3? See Discussion.
Discussion:
Transurethral resection: Microscopic Diagnosis: Bladder, transurethral resection: Low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma Gross Description: Received in formalin labeled with the patient's name and bladder tumor is a 3.0 x 2.0 1.0 cm aggregate of friable tan tissue biopsies. The specimen is submitted in toto, cassettes
This is all the information there is on this path report. Extent of Disease (EOD) instructions state inferred description of noninvasive: No statement of invasion (microscopic description present) SEER 2018 Appendix C Bladder Coding Guidelines state code behavior 3 if the only surgery performed is a transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) documenting that depth of invasion cannot be measured because there is no muscle in the specimen OR the pathology report does not mention whether the submucosa is free of tumor or has been invaded by tumor.
Answer:
For cases diagnosed 2021 or later
Code the behavior as in situ (/2) when the diagnosis is low grade urothelial carcinoma and there is no information regarding invasion. The SEER Manual Appendix C Bladder Coding Guidelines revision reflects this change. No changes have been made to EOD at this time.
The guidelines have been updated as follows.
Low grade urothelial carcinoma with no other information: Code to /2.
High grade urothelial carcinoma with no other information: Code to /3.
For cases diagnosed prior to 2021
Code the behavior as malignant (/3) for a bladder tumor with low-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma.
