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Report Produced: 01/09/2026 03:56 AM

Report Question ID Question Discussion Answer Year
20130128 Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many primaries are accessioned if a patient has a history of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and a 12/08/2011 subsequent biopsy of the left leg that confirms leukemia cutis? See Discussion. Patient with a history of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia has been undergoing treatment with Dacogen for three years. On 12/8/11 the patient had a biopsy of the left leg that confirmed a diagnosis of leukemia cutis. How is the leukemia cutis coded?

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

Accession a single primary, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia [9945/3], per Rule M2. Accession a single primary when there is a single histology.

This is not a new primary. Leukemia cutis is the infiltration of neoplastic leukocytes into the skin from the existing leukemia. This is an advanced phase of the leukemia and has a poor prognosis.

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
20130057 Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is the histology coded if the bone marrow biopsy favors lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma and the physician states the diagnosis is lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma-Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia? See Discussion.

Bone marrow biopsy: Focal bone marrow involvement with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Comment: This patient has 2 monoclonal proteins in serum, IgM kappa and IgG kappa clones. The marrow does have focal involvement with a small cell lymphoproliferative disorder. A lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma is favored.

Flow Cytometry: Bone marrow reveals a low level, kappa-bearing-B-lymphoproliferative population that has an immunophenotype compatible with mantle cell lymphoma or related small, mature non-Hodgkin lymphoproliferative disorder.

Physician statement: lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma-Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.

Per the Heme DB, the criteria to diagnosis WM is the serum paraprotein IgM. This patient's IgM was 6020 mg/dL. It was described as elevated per the physician. The physician also states the patient's IgG is elevated. According to the Heme DB, when both IgG and IgM are elevated it is indicative of LPL.

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

Code the histology to 9671/3 [lymphoplasmactyic lymphoma (LPL)] per the Heme DB Abstractor Notes and Rule PH17. When IgG and IgM are elevated, code to lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is caused by increased lymphocytes which causes an increase in IgM. LPL has mixed abnormalities, both the lymphocytes and plasma cells are increased which results in an abnormally high IgM and IgG.

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
20130082 Ambiguous terminology/Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is histology coded when a skin of lip pathology report demonstrates neoplastic lymphoid infiltrate with small B cells, compatible with B-cell small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia? See Discussion. Ambiguous terminology is not used to code histology. What is the correct histology for this case? There was no other clinical statement from the physician regarding the histology following the release of the pathology report diagnosis.

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

Code the histology to 9823/3 [chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma]. This primary was accessioned based on reportable ambiguous terminology. The surgical pathology report was compatible with B-cell small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia, "compatible with" is a reportable ambiguous term. A neoplastic lymphoid infiltrate is not a reportable diagnosis. Therefore, a diagnosis compatible with CLL/SLL is coded as histology code 9823/3.

The statement that you do not use ambiguous terms to code histology is intended for those NOS histologies with an ambiguous term being used to describe the subtype.

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
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
20130212 Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is a case reportable in which the pathology report is negative for plasmacytoma but a subsequent physician's clinical diagnosis is plasmacytoma?

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

This case is reportable if the patient was treated for plasmacytoma. When the physician calls the case plasmacytoma and treats the patient accordingly, report the case.

See Case Reportability Instructions #6: Report the case when there is a clinical diagnosis (physician's statement) of a reportable hematopoietic or lymphoid neoplasm.

Note 1: The clinical diagnosis may be a final diagnosis found within the medical record or recorded on a scan (CT, MRI for example)

Note 2: Report the case even if the diagnostic tests are equivocal. A number of hematopoietic neoplasms are "diagnoses of exclusion" in which the diagnostic tests are equivocal and the physician makes the clinical diagnosis based on the equivocal tests and the clinical picture. See the Heme DB for definitive diagnostic methods for the specific neoplasm being abstracted.

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
20130179 Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many primaries and what is the histology for each primary if a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [9680/3] and a focus of splenic marginal zone lymphoma [9689/3] occur in a splenectomy specimen? See Discussion.

Patient presents with a huge mass in the spleen with direct extension to gastric fundus.

12/1/12 Splenectomy: Macroscopic nodules compatible with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [9680/3]. Further, in the white pulp there are changes compatible with focus of splenic marginal zone lymphoma [9689/3].

Under the Transformations To section in the Heme DB, splenic marginal zone lymphoma transforms to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Per Rule M4, this is a single primary. According to Rule M4, one is to abstract a single primary when two or more types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are simultaneously present in the same anatomic location(s), such as the same lymph node or lymph node region(s), the same organ(s), and/or the same tissue(s).

Per Rule PH11, code the histology to 9680/3 [diffuse large B-cell lymphoma] and the primary site to C422 [spleen]. According to PH11, one is to code the primary site to the site of origin, lymph node(s), lymph node region(s), tissue(s) or organ(s) and histology to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (9680/3) when DLBCL and any other non-Hodgkin lymphoma are present in the same lymph node(s), lymph node region(s), organ(s), tissue(s) or bone marrow.

2013
20130218 2013
20130107 Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is the histology coded for a diagnosis of polycythemia vera with myeloproliferative syndrome?

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

Code the histology to 9950/3 [polycythemia vera], the more specific histology, per Rule PH29. Myeloproliferative syndrome is a non-specific (NOS) histology and polycythemia vera is a specific type of myeloproliferative 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
20130191 Systemic/Surgery Sequence--Bladder: How is the systemic treatment/surgery sequence field coded for a 2013 case if the patient has a TURBT followed by multi-agent chemotherapy, and then a cystoprostatectomy followed by post-operative multi-agent chemotherapy? For cases diagnosed in 2012 and later, code 7 (surgery both before and after systemic therapy) seems like the most appropriate answer. However, previous SINQ entries 20091055 and 20071102 have conflicting answers regarding surgery before and after systemic therapy. Do these SINQ entries apply to a 2013 diagnosis? Would the systemic treatment/surgery sequence be coded 7 because this patient had surgery then chemotherapy followed by more surgery? Should the post-operative systemic treatment be ignored in coding the sequence in this case?

Code the Systemic/Surgery Sequence to 7 [surgery both before and after systemic therapy] for this case.

The answers to SINQ 20091055 and 20071102 do not apply to a case diagnosed in 2013. These answers were posted prior to code 7 becoming effective in 2012.

2013
20130160 Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Should the histology be coded to a therapy-related myeloid neoplasm when the physician states the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia is secondary to treatment with Imuran? See Discussion.

Patient has a diagnosis of AML for which the physician recommends a bone marrow transplant. The physician indicated the diagnosis is actually a secondary AML due to treatment with Imuran for polymyalgia rheumatica. The physician also stated this is a high risk type of AML.

Imuran is not a chemotherapy agent per SEER*Rx. Can the histology be coded as 9920/3 (e.g., Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia, NOS) when the patient has not been treated with chemotherapy for a reportable disease? The physician is a bone marrow transplant expert who states the AML is therapy-related disease. Bone marrow disease is a listed as a risk for treatment with Imuran.

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

Code this histology to 9920/3 [therapy-related myeloid neoplasm] when the physician states the acute myeloid leukemia is therapy-related.

Therapy-related AML can result from any systemic therapy for benign or malignant diseases. In this case, AML resulted from immune system-suppressing therapy with Imuran for a benign disease, polymyalgia rheumatica. The drugs that induced the AML do not have to be listed in the SEER*Rx database.

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