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Report Produced: 02/26/2026 15:17 PM

Report Question ID Question Discussion Answer Year
20130056 Primary site/Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How are the site and histology fields coded if a bone marrow biopsy shows, "B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma," but the patient has no palpable lymphadenopathy and no scans were done? See Discussion. Should the primary site be C779 or C421? Is the correct histology 9684/3 [malignant lymphoma, large B-cell, diffuse, immunoblastic, NOS]?

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

Code the primary site to C421 [bone marrow] and the histology to 9680/3 [diffuse large B-cell lymphoma] per Rule PH26. B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma is listed under Alternative Names section of the Heme BD for DLBCL [9680/3]. This patient has bone marrow involvement only. The Note for Rule PH26 instructs one to code the primary site to the bone marrow when all physical exams or work-up were negative for lymph node, tissue, or organ involvement OR no other work-up was done.

The histology is not coded 9684/3 [malignant lymphoma, large B-cell, diffuse, immunoblastic, NOS]. This histology code became obsolete in 1/1/2010. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, immunoblastic variant is also listed under Alternative Names section of the Heme BD for DLBCL.

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
20130171 Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is "plasma cell neoplasm" a synonym for multiple myeloma and is it reportable? See Discussion. Path report in the comment section states "plasma cell neoplasm such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)."

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

Per Appendix F, plasma cell neoplasm is not a synonym for multiple myeloma. Plasma cell neoplasm is a disorder that has an abnormal number of plasma cells. MGUS is such a disorder, but it is not reportable.

According to WHO, 'Plasma cell neoplasms' is the umbrella term that includes MGUS, plasma cell myeloma, solitary plasmacytoma of bone, immunoglobulin deposition diseases, extraosseous plasmacytoma, and osteosclerotic myeloma. Of these, only plasma cell myeloma, solitary plasmacytoma of bone, and extraosseous plasmacytoma are reportable.

Note: This terminology was added to the 2012 Hematopoietic Manual and Database for 1/1/2012. This should not have been added. If the only diagnosis is "plasma cell neoplasm," this is not reportable. If the diagnosis is "plasma cell neoplasm c/w multiple myeloma (or another reportable disease)," then it would be a reportable disease.

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
20130068 Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is polycythemia, NOS reportable? See Discussion. The physician states the patient has polycythemia. There is no confirmation of primary polycythemia nor is there mention of polycythemia vera. JAK2 was negative.

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

Polycythemia, NOS is not reportable. Polycythemia, NOS is not a synonym for polycythemia vera and, therefore, is not reportable. To be reportable the diagnosis must be polycythemia vera, or one of the other terms listed in the Alternate Names section of the Heme DB.

Polycythemia (also known as erythrocytosis) is a disease state in which the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells increases. Blood volume proportions can be measured as a hematocrit level. It can be due to an increase in the mass of red blood cells ("absolute polycythemia"); or to a decrease in the volume of plasma ("relative polycythemia").

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
20130035

Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many primaries are accessioned and what rule applies when a subsequent diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (95%) and follicular lymphoma, grade 3 (5%) is made following an original diagnosis of low grade CD-10 positive B-cell lymphoma, most consistent with low grade follicular lymphoma (FL) ? See Discussion.

In 2011, patient presented with a large mesenteric mass, numerous other smaller mesenteric lymph nodes, moderate retroperitoneal and extensive iliac chain adenopathy greater on right; small inguinal nodes are also present mostly on right side and splenomegaly per the CT scan. Abdominal pelvic mass needle biopsies showed low grade CD-10 positive B-cell lymphoma, most consistent with low grade follicular lymphoma (FL). The patient was treated with R-CVP with unknown response.

In June 2012, patient presented again for laparoscopy and lymph node biopsy for stated recurrence of lymphoma found on CT scan. A large mass was seen in mesentery of bowel. Abdominal mass biopsy showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Abdominal mass #2 excisional biopsy showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 95%, and follicular lymphoma grade 3, 5%. The majority of the tumor is now DLBCL.

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

This case should be accessioned as a single primary, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma diagnosed in 2011 per Rule M7. Note 4 for Rule M7 states to change the histology code on the original abstract to the more specific histology, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in this case. There is no time restriction for rule M7. Apply rule PH11 and code the histology as 9680/3 [DLBCL] when both DLBCL and follicular lymphoma are present in the same lymph node(s).

Ambiguous terminology is not used to code a more specific histologic type per the Heme Manual. The information submitted states only that this low grade B-cell lymphoma was "most consistent with follicular lymphoma." The term "consistent with" is an ambiguous term per SEER and cannot be used to code the histology of the 2011 neoplasm as follicular lymphoma. There was no subsequent clinical statement that this patient was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in 2011.

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.

Although the ambiguous terminology on the pathology report is not used to code the histology to follicular lymphoma, had there been a subsequent clinical statement that this patient had follicular lymphoma, the histology would be coded to follicular lymphoma [9690/3]. A diagnosis of follicular lymphoma followed by a diagnosis of DLBCL more than 21 days later is a new primary per rule M12.

 2013
20130187 Reportability: Is a clinically diagnosed Stage III malignant thymoma reportable when the post-neoadjuvant resection showed spindle cell thymoma? See Discussion. A thymoma is described by the medical oncologist at the time of the initial diagnosis as a malignant thymoma, Stage III. The patient had neoadjuvant CAP chemotherapy followed by a resection. Following the resection, the pathologist stated the diagnosis was spindle cell thymoma. A malignant thymoma is reportable. Based on the information provided, a reportable diagnosis (malignant thymoma) was made by a physician and the patient was treated for this diagnosis. Because there is no mention of the initial diagnosis being amended based on the resection specimen's pathology report, assume the initial diagnosis is still valid. 2013
20130186

Grade: Can the FIGO grade be used to code the morphologic grade? See discussion.

FIGO Grade is coded in CS SSF 7 in the Corpus Uteri schema. The SEER Manual does not address using FIGO grade for coding grade in morphology.

Do not use FIGO grade to code the grade field. See the sentence below the table in Instruction #6 in the Grade Coding Instructions for cases diagnosed 2014 and later, http://seer.cancer.gov/tools/grade/

2013
20130109

Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many primaries are accessioned if a 2004 diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia is followed by a 2013 diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma? See Discussion.

Patient was diagnosed in 2004 with acute myeloid leukemia [9861/3] and treated with chemotherapy and transplant. Now the patient has a biopsy of an umbilical mass that is positive for myeloid sarcoma (granulocytic sarcoma) [9930/3].

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

Accession a single primary, acute myeloid leukemia [9861/3] diagnosed in 2004 per Rule M3.

When there is a myeloid sarcoma diagnosed simultaneously or after a leukemia of the same lineage, it is a single primary. The myeloid sarcoma is actually caused by the AML progressing. The myeloid cells in the bone marrow or blood literally "seep out" and implant in the tissue.

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
20130166

Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is "indolent multiple myeloma" reportable and synonymous with "indolent/smoldering myeloma"? See Discussion.

7/10/12 Diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)

7/27/12 Diagnosed with MGUS/smoldering myeloma. There was no intervention at this time.

In about October/November 2012 the diagnosis was reported as smoldering myeloma,.

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

Indolent myeloma [9732/3] and smoldering myeloma [9732/2] are reportable terms synonymous with plasma cell myeloma. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) [9765/1] is not 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
20130051 Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many primaries are accessioned when biopsies of the left and right tonsils show diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and there is no other evidence of involvement? See Discussion. Scans are negative for lymphadenopathy and the bone marrow biopsy was benign. Radiation Oncology staged this as localized bilateral tonsil primary lymphoma.

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

This case should be accessioned as a single primary, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [9680/3] of bilateral tonsils. Per Rule M2, a single histology is a single primary. Note 1 for Rule M2 states bilateral involvement of lymph nodes and/or organs is still a single primary.

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
20130069 Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm reportable? See Discussion. The Heme DB indicates myeloproliferative neoplasm is reportable, but does not indicate whether chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm is. Does the word "chronic" make this non-reportable?

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

Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm is reportable. The preferred term is myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable (MPN). Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm is listed in the Heme DB under the Alternate Names section for this neoplasm.

The term chronic does not affect the reportability of this neoplasm. The newer terms are myeloproliferative neoplasm or myeloproliferative disorder and chronic is not used in most diagnoses.

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