An official website of the United States government
Home
SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 05/29/2026 7:35 PM
Question 20220014
Inquiry Details
References:
#1: 2022 SEER Manual. Appendix C: Skin Surgery Codes
#2: NCCN Guidelines Melanoma: Cutaneous. Version 2.2022, January 26, 2022
Question:
Surgery of Primary Site--Melanoma: How is Surgery of Primary Site coded when a path specimen is labeled as a “staged excision” for a cutaneous melanoma. See Discussion.
Discussion:
Patient was diagnosed on biopsy with lentigo maligna melanoma of the nasal dorsum. The only available documentation of the subsequent surgery is a single pathology report with the nasal dorsum “staged excision (debulking specimen)” and four additional “staged excision” specimens of the same site.
Is it safe to assume this is a Mohs surgery? Would it be safe to assume staged excisions of sites other than skin of face, are also Mohs surgery?
Answer:
Interpret a "staged excision" for cutaneous melanoma as a type of Mohs surgery.
Skin surgery codes are currently under review and revision. Document details in available text fields.
