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Report Produced: 04/19/2026 16:01 PM

Report Question ID Question Discussion Answer Year
20130016 Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many primaries are accessioned when a patient is diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma in 1996, received chemotherapy on and off for 15 years due to relapses, and was subsequently diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in 2012?

For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.

Per Rule M10, this case should be accessioned as two primaries. According to Rule M10, one is to abstract as multiple primaries when a neoplasm is originally diagnosed as a chronic neoplasm AND there is a second diagnosis of an acute neoplasm more than 21 days after the chronic diagnosis.

The histology for the 1996 chronic neoplasm is coded to 9670/3 [small lymphocytic lymphoma]. The histology for the 2012 acute neoplasm is 9680/3 [diffuse large B-cell lymphoma].

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.

2013
20130015 Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is essential thrombocytopenia reportable? See Discussion. Many times essential thrombocytopenia has been coded based on blood counts. Sometimes the discharge summary states thrombocytosis (NOS), and the case is coded to essential thrombocytopenia. Are these cases reportable?

For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.

The following are not alternative names for any reportable disease process:

  • Essential thrombocytopenia

  • Reactive thrombocytosis

  • Thrombocythemia

  • Thrombocytopenia

  • Thrombocytosis

    • The diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia is based on blood counts, but is usually a diagnosis made by excluding other myelodysplastic disorders. The following are reportable disease processes:

    • Essential thrombocythemia (9962/3)

  • Essential thrombocytosis (9962/3)

  • Refractory thrombocytopenia (9992/3)

    • 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.

    		2013
    		20130014 Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is Castleman disease reportable when diagnosed 2010 and later? When checking Castleman disease in the Hematopoietic Database, the result is a reportable histology code 9738/3. However, per an online search, Castleman disease is a very rare disorder characterized by non-cancerous growths (tumors).

    For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.

    Castleman disease, NOS, is not reportable for cases diagnosed 2010 and later. However, when Castleman disease is diagnosed in connection with large B-cell lymphoma [9738/3], it is reportable.

    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.

    		2013
    		20130013

    Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) reportable?

    MCAS has been given an ICD-9 code of 202.60 by our medical record coders. In the Progress Notes, the physicians state this is not the same as systemic mastocytosis. There is no listing for MCAS in the Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Database.

    Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is not a reportable neoplasm unless it is specifically stated to be a result of a mast cell proliferative disorder that is reportable.

    Per our expert pathologist, MCAS is a relatively new term used for conditions in which patients experience the symptoms of mast cell mediators in the absence of an increase/proliferation of mast cells. The diagnosis of this group of disorders is based in part on a complex of symptoms and on the demonstration of no increase in mast cells. Some of these diseases are difficult to separate from mastocytosis (which is reportable). Currently, this group of disorders is not part of the systemic mastocytosis/mast cell leukemia/mast cell sarcoma spectrum.

    		 2013
    		20130012

    MP/H Rules/Multiple primaries--Urinary: If topography codes C681-C689 are not included in Urinary Multiple Primary Rule M8, would a subsequent renal pelvis papillary transitional cell carcinoma be a new primary? See Discussion.

    The patient had a papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and ureter diagnosed in 2010. The primary site was coded to C689 [urinary system, NOS]. The patient was diagnosed with a transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis [C659] in 2012. In applying the MP/H rules to the 2012 diagnosis, rule M8 would be ignored because the primary site of the 2010 primary was coded to C689. The result is that M9 or M10 would be applied which indicates a new primary for the 2012 diagnosis. Should the 2012 renal pelvis carcinoma be a new primary?

    For cases diagnosed 2007 or later, accession a single primary, papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and ureter [C689, urinary system, NOS] diagnosed in 2010. The steps used to arrive at this decision are:

    Open the Multiple Primary and Histology Coding Rules Manual. Choose one of the three formats (i.e., flowchart, matrix or text). Go to the Urinary MP Rules because site specific rules exist for this primary.

    Start at the MULTIPLE TUMORS module, rule M3. The rules are intended to be reviewed in consecutive order within a module. This patient has urothelial tumors in two or more of the listed sites (bladder, ureter and renal pelvis) diagnosed within 3 years.

    When C689 is assigned because tumors of the bladder and tumors of the ureter were determined to be a single primary and the site of origin is not known (as in this example), rule M8 is applied when a subsequent tumor is diagnosed in one of the listed sites. However, if site C689 [urinary system, NOS] was assigned for other unknown urinary primary site situations, rule M8 would not be used.

    Rule M8 was written specifically for urothelial tumors in the renal pelvis, ureter, bladder and urethra. Paraurethral gland [C681] and overlapping lesions of urinary organs [C688] do not belong in rule M8.

    We will add this issue to the list of possible revisions for the next edition of the MP/H Rules.

    		 2013
    		20130010 MP/H Rules/Histology--Skin: How is the histology coded for "infiltrative carcinoma with ductal alterations compatible with squamoid eccrine ductal carcinoma" of the skin?

    Code the histology to 8413/3 [eccrine adenocarcinoma]. This is the most specific code available for this diagnosis.

    According to our expert pathologist advisor, "The adnexal glands in the skin, sweat (eccrine) glands and apocrine glands, all have ducts which connect the business portion of each gland to the skin surface. Some of the adnexal tumors have features of differentiation which appear to be duct-like, hence the designation 'ductal.'"

    In addition, "The 'squamoid' simply indicates some degree of squamous differentiation, but doesn't alter the usefulness of [code 8413/3] because we have no way of coding anything more specific in this case anyway."

    		2013
    		20130009 Grade--Pancreas: Can the grade be coded when a biopsy is taken from the part of a primary tumor that has contiguously extended into an adjacent organ or structure? See Discussion. The grade rule states to code grade from tissue removed from the primary tumor only, never from a metastatic site or a site of recurrence. There is no mention of whether the grade can be coded if only the contiguous site of involvement is biopsied when a single tumor directly extends to an adjacent tissue or organ. For example, is grade coded to 2 when a pancreatic tumor extends into the duodenum, and the duodenal biopsy confirms moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma consistent with a pancreatic primary? Or does the primary organ/site have to be biopsied in order to be able to code grade?

    For one tumor involving a contiguous site, when there is no tissue specimen available from the primary site, you may code the grade based on the tissue from the tumor in the contiguous site.

    This instruction is included in the upcoming grade instruction document.

    		 2013
    		20130008 Primary site--Kidney, renal pelvis: Should primary site be coded C809 [unknown] or C649 [kidney] when a patient is diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in a transplanted kidney? Code the primary site to C649 [kidney]. Per the SEER Manual, code the site where the neoplasm originated. There are no separate instructions for coding primary site for transplanted organs. This patient's renal cell carcinoma originated in the kidney [C649]. 2013
    		20130007

    MP/H Rules/Histology--Colon: What rule applies and how is histology coded if a colon tumor is composed of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor, grade 1 (G1)? See Discussion.

    Intestine, large -- moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma

    Pathological stage: IIIA (T2 N1a Mx) -- Neuroendocrine tumor, G1

    Addendum comment: The results of the immunochemical study are compatible with a neuroendocrine tumor, G1.

    For cases diagnosed 2007 or later, the correct histology code is 8244/3 [composite carcinoid]. The steps used to arrive at this decision are:

    Step 1: Open the Multiple Primary and Histology Coding Rules Manual. Choose one of the three formats (i.e., flowchart, matrix or text). Go to the Colon Histology rules because site specific rules have been developed for this primary.

    Step 2: Start at the SINGLE TUMOR module, rule H1. The rules are intended to be reviewed in consecutive order within a module. Stop at rule H9. Code the histology as 8244/3 [composite carcinoid] when the diagnosis is adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumor.

    Neuroendocrine tumor, grade 1 (G1) is synonymous with carcinoid tumor [8240/3] for the purpose of rule H9.

    		2013
    		20130005 Reportability--Brain and CNS: Are spinal schwannomas and neurofibromas reportable or non-reportable? The most accurate and most current instruction is to report these spinal tumors when they arise within the spinal dura or spinal nerve roots, or when they are stated to be "intradural" or "of the nerve root." Do not report these tumors when they arise in the peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves are the portion of nerve extending beyond the spinal dura. 2013