System Guide
Back to Search Results

Search Results

Display Options
Display Options
Select Fields
Export Results to CSV Create Report 0
+ Add all results to report

Report Produced: 10/07/2026 18:03 PM

Report Question ID Question Discussion Answer Cancer Site Category Data Item Category Year
20160017

Surgery of Primary Site--Melanoma: Please further explain the SEER Note under Melanoma surgery codes 30-36 for these two examples. Are both examples coded 31?

1. Shave bx: +melanoma in situ, +microscopic margins  Wide excision: no residual melanoma in situ

2. Shave bx: melanoma, +microscopic margin   Wide excision: Melanoma, margins negative (margin status negative but distance not stated)

Revised answer: Assign surgery code 30 for both examples based on the SEER Note on the top of page 2 in the Surgery of Primary Site Codes for Skin: If it is stated to be a wide excision or reexcision, but the margins are unknown, code to 30.

 Melanoma Surgery of Primary Site 2016
20260001

SEER Manual/Surgery of Primary Site--Ovary: Should "(salpingo)" be removed in the SEER Note under Ovary surgery code A280? See Discussion.

Code A280 is defined as a total removal of the ovarian tumor or removal of a single ovary (oophorectomy) WITH a hysterectomy. The unilateral removal of both the fallopian tube and ovary [(salpingo-) oophorectomy] is included in surgery codes A350-A370. However, the SEER Note under code A280 states, "Also use code A280 for current unilateral (salpingo-) oophorectomy with previous history of hysterectomy." Should this SEER Note read, "Also use code A280 for current unilateral oophorectomy with previous history of hysterectomy"?

Assign code A280 for current unilateral oophorectomy with hysterectomy or with a previous history of hysterectomy.

We will remove the text ‘(salpingo-)’ from the Ovary surgery code A280 SEER Note in the next release of SEER Manual.

 Ovary Surgery of Primary Site 2026
20100038 Surgery of Primary Site--Prostate: Is a prostate saturation biopsy coded under diagnostic biopsy or surgery? A prostate saturation biopsy is a transperineal template-guided stereotactic saturation prostate biopsy that typically produces 30 to 80 core biopsies. This is an alternative biopsy technique used for some high-risk patients including men with persistently elevated PSA, those who have atypia on prior prostate biopsies, or men with biopsies showing high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). Although this is a different procedure, it is still a diagnostic biopsy. Do not code prostate saturation biopsy under Surgery of Primary Site. Prostate Surgery of Primary Site 2010
20150040

Surgery of Primary Site--Pleura: How is this field coded if the patient underwent an exploratory thoracotomy with partial decortication that excised some, but not all, of the pleural mesothelioma tumors? See Discussion.

This patient underwent a "partial decortication" per the operative report. While the operative report does not specifically note that this was performed with a partial pleurectomy, it appears the patient had a partial pleurectomy because the largest specimen removed was a "pleural peel" specimen, which included the parietal and visceral pleural surfaces with a small amount of underlying lung tissue. The operative report notes the patient had involvement of both the lung and chest wall. A total resection was not possible due to the extent of the tumor. However, this patient does appear to have undergone at least a partial resection of the pleura/tumor burden. The patient did not simply undergo a pleurodesis to free adhesions. Per the NCI's PDQ, pleurectomy and decortication are performed together. Because the operative report and pathology report only called this procedure a "partial decortication" without specifically mentioning a pleurectomy, would this be coded as a tumor excision (surgery code 20)? Or should we assume the procedure is best coded as a partial pleurectomy and decortication and use code 30 (simple/partial resection)?

Read the operative report and the pathology report and assign the surgery code that best represents the extent of the surgery. In this case, code 30 seems most appropriate. Do not assign the surgery code based only on the name of the procedure; use all information available to chose the most representative code.

N/A Surgery of Primary Site 2015
20140074

Surgery of Primary Site--Brain and CNS: What procedure code would be used for NeuroBlate Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy? This procedure was used for a Glioblastoma of the brain.

If a pathologic specimen is not taken during this procedure, code in the surgery field using code 10 (Local tumor destruction, NOS). If specimen is sent to pathology, code 90, surgery, NOS. We will request this procedure be included in future treatment field coding documentation.

Our research notes that this procedure, also known as LITT (Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy), is a surgical treatment. Lasers transmit heat to coagulate or destroy the brain tumors from the inside out.

Brain and CNS Surgery of Primary Site 2014
20220014

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.

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?

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.

 Melanoma Surgery of Primary Site 2022
20150042

Surgery of Primary Site--Breast: Is the surgery code 42 or 52? Does it matter that the procedure states no axillary LN, but the pathology found 2 additional LN? See discussion.

 

Procedure stated = Bilateral skin-sparing mastectomies, left axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy. On the pathology report it indicates two additional lymph nodes were removed that were not SLN. The axillary aspect measures 2 x 2 x 1 cm. Two lymph nodes are identified ranging from 0.5 up to 1 cm. The lymph nodes are bisected and entirely submitted. Final Diagnosis Left breast, mastectomy including nipple: no residual carcinoma; FINAL DIAGNOSIS for LN = Lymph nodes, left axillary sentinel #1; excision: Two lymph nodes examined - negative for tumor (0/2); Two lymph nodes - negative for tumor (0/2)

Assign surgery of primary site code 42. It is possible to obtain lymph nodes in a mastectomy specimen without an axillary dissection. Remember to capture the excised lymph nodes in the scope of lymph node surgery field.

Breast Surgery of Primary Site 2015
20200058

Surgery of Primary Site/Surgery Codes, NOS--Pancreas: What exactly is an extended pancreatoduodenectomy? Must the entire pancreas be resected in order to use code 70? What minimal requirements must be met to use code 70? How should a Whipple with cholecystectomy, partial omentectomy, common hepatic excision, portal vein resection, and lymphadenectomy be coded?

According to our research, a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) includes an en bloc resection of the pancreatic head, the common bile duct, the gallbladder, the duodenum, the upper jejunum, the distal portion of the stomach and the adjacent lymph nodes. The extended PD procedure includes extended lymphadenectomy, extended organ resection, and extended vascular resection and reconstruction.

Code 70 could be assigned without the entire pancreas being resected.

A Whipple procedure removes the head of the pancreas, duodenum, stomach and gallbladder and part the common bile duct. The portal vein resection is probably part of the common bile duct excision. If the omentectomy was performed for treatment of this primary, record it in "Surgical Procedure of Other Site." Record the lymphadenectomy in the lymph node data items.

 Pancreas Surgery of Primary Site 2020
20140068

Surgery of Primary Site--Corpus uteri: What is the correct surgery code to assign for dilation and curettage (D&C) for an in-situ endometrium (C541) primary? The code to use for the cervix uteri (C530-C539) is specified, but not for the corpus uteri (C540-C549).

Assign code 20 for endometrial D&C for in situ cancer of endometrium.

Corpus uteri Surgery of Primary Site 2014
20160014

Surgery of primary site--Lung: Should microwave ablation be coded as treatment for lung cancer, and if so, how should it be coded?

Code microwave tumor ablation as surgery. For lung, assign code 15.

This question was discussed by the technical advisory group – a small group of representatives from each standard setter which meets periodically. The group agreed on this consensus answer.

Lung Surgery of Primary Site 2016