First course treatment--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is a "donor lymphocyte infusion" that is used in the treatment of CLL coded?
Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is coded as immunotherapy. The lymphocytes are donated by the same person who donated the original stem cell transplant. The lymphocyte infusion creates an immune response in which the T-cells are activated to attack the cancer cells.
Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: What is the primary site code for a primary effusion lymphoma if the patient has multiple regions that are positive (e.g., pleural and pericardial effusion and the pleural fluid) for lymphoma?
Per the Abstractor Notes in the Heme DB, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is unusual in that the majority of cases arise in body cavities, such as the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities. Because there are no ICD-O-3 codes for the pleural space, pericardium, or peritoneal cavity, code the primary site to pleura C384 when the neoplasm arises in the pleural cavity, to pericardium C380 when it occurs in the pericardium, and to peritoneal cavity C482 when it occurs in the peritoneum.
Typically only one body cavity is involved. However, if multiple regions are positive for PEL as in this case, code the primary site to C809 per Rule PH27. Rule PH27 indicates one is to code the to primary site C809 when there is no evidence of lymphoma in lymph nodes AND the physician in the medical record that he/she that the lymphoma in an
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.
Computed Ethnicity: Should the Name--Alias field be used when generating Computed Ethnicity?
No, "Alias" is not used and should not be used to generate Computed Ethnicity. Computed Ethnicity records the ethnicity based on last name and/or maiden name using a computer algorithm. Alias is not part of the algorithm.
Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is the primary site coded for a diagnosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) diagnosed on an inguinal lymph node biopsy with CT scan evidence of lymphadenopathy in the chest, abdomen and pelvis if the bone marrow is also involved?
Code the primary site to multiple lymph node regions, NOS [C778] per Rule PH21 when multiple lymph node regions, as defined by the ICD-O-3, are involved and it is not possible to identify the lymph node region where the lymphoma originated
In the Abstractor Notes section in the Heme DB for PTLD it states PTLD commonly involves lymph nodes, GI tract, lungs and the liver. This patient has extensive lymph node involvement. Rule PH26 states to code the primary site to the bone marrow when ONLY the bone marrow is involved; however, that does not apply in this case.
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.
Reportability/Terminology--Head & Neck: Is an "evolving" squamous cell carcinoma of the vermillion border of the left lower lip reportable?
For solid tumors, ignore the term "evolving" and apply the registry rules for reportability to this case. Squamous cell carcinoma of the vermillion border of the lower lip (C001) is reportable.
2004 SEER Manual Errata/CS Lymph Nodes--Head & Neck: On page C-353, in the supraglottic larynx schema, there is no mention of Level IV nodes in the CS Lymph Node codes.
This answer was provided in the context of CSv1 coding guidelines. The response may not be used after your registry database has been converted to CSv2.The CS Steering Committee is aware of this issue and is working to resolve it.
Reportability/Ambiguous Terminology/Date of Diagnosis: If a "suspicious" cytology is reportable only when a later positive biopsy or a physician's clinical impression of cancer supports the cytology findings, is the Date of Diagnosis field coded to the later confirmation date rather than to the date of the suspicious cytology? Is a suspicious "biopsy" handled the same way?
Cytology reported as "suspicious" is not reportable. If the physician confirms the suspicious cytology by making a clinical diagnosis of malignancy, the Date of Diagnosis field is coded to the date of the clinical diagnosis, which may or may not be same date the cytology was performed.
Without supporting clinical documentation, the case will remain non-reportable and will not be submitted to SEER. The supporting documentation can be a physician's statement that the patient has cancer, a scan or procedure that identifies cancer, or a positive biopsy.
Suspicious "biopsies" are reportable according to SEER's list of ambiguous terms. Suspicious "cytologies" without supporting clinical statements are not.
Surgery of Primary Site/Date Therapy Initiated--Cervix: Should "negative endocervical curettings" be coded as surgical treatment for carcinoma in situ of the cervix primaries and should the date of the procedure ever be used in coding the Date Therapy Initiated field?
For cases diagnosed 1/1/2003 and later: Code Surgery of Primary Site to 25 [D&C endocervical curettage (for in situ only)]. If this is the first treatment given, the Date Therapy Initiated is coded to the date of the curettage.
Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is the primary site coded to C778 or C779 for a diffuse large B cell lymphoma with abdominal lymph node, neck lymph node, and spleen involvement?
Use Rule PH21 to code the primary site to C778 [lymph nodes of multiple regions]. The spleen is not listed under the Primary Site(s) section in the Heme DB for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Per Rule PH21 code the primary site to multiple lymph node regions, NOS (C778) when multiple lymph node regions, as defined by ICD-O-3, are involved and it is not possible to identify the lymph node region where the lymphoma originated. The spleen is a primary site for only a few lymphomas (noted in the Heme DB). Because the spleen filters blood, it is often reactive (splenomegaly) or frankly involved with the lymphoma. That reaction or involvement, however, does not affect the primary site coding. Only the involved nodes are used in coding primary site.
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.