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Report Produced: 04/04/2026 08:53 AM

Report Question ID Question Discussion Answer Year
20220025

Reportability/Histology--Anal Canal:  For cases diagnosed in 2021, is anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) II reportable?   There is conflicting information regarding the reportability for AIN II.  SINQ 20210048 says to report AIN II but the 2021 SEER Manual Appendix E states intraepithelial neoplasia (8077/2 and 8148/2) must be unequivocally stated as grade III to be reportable.

AIN II is reportable for 2021. Squamous intraepithelial neoplasia, grade II is listed in ICD-O-3.2 as 8077/2 making it reportable for cases diagnosed in 2021. AIN is a type of squamous intraepithelial neoplasia.

The wording in Appendix E of the 2021 SEER manual (must be unequivocally stated as grade III to be reportable) was left over from earlier versions and is not correct for 2021 diagnoses. Follow the guidance in SINQ 20210048.

 2022
20220024

Update to Current Manual/Residence at diagnosis:  Would an exchange student be a temporary resident of the SEER area or a non-resident?  See Discussion.

A 17 year old exchange student was brought into the hospital with appendicitis.  The patient had an appendectomy; there was no follow up treatment.  5/27/2006 pathology report of vermiform appendix:  Adenocarcinoid appendix <5 mm tumor limited to appendix.

The patient has no record in Lexis Nexus and no social security number.  The address is a post office box; additionally, the patient’s birthplace is Switzerland and is lost to follow up.

Code the residence where the student is living for exchange students temporarily living in the U.S.  Code the temporary address if known or the Post Office Box if unknown.  We will add this scenario to the next release of the SEER manual.

 2022
20220022

Tumor Size--Pathologic--Anus: In 2019, the pathology report of an anal canal squamous cell carcinoma stated the tumor size is 2.5 cm from proximal to distal (3.5 cm in circumference).  Is the pathologic tumor size tumor size 025 or 035? 

Based on the information provided, code the tumor size as 035.  We asked an expert pathologist to review this question and she said to use the larger measurement.  She also said "the pathologist usually cuts the anus and rectum open like a tube; the “circumference” would be measured flat."

 2022
20220021

Solid Tumor Rules/Multiple Primaries--Brain and CNS:  How many primaries are accessioned, and what M Rule applies, for a 2012 diagnosis of left cerebral transitional meningioma (9537/0) that transforms to an atypical meningioma (9539/1) in 2022? See Discussion.

The patient underwent a resection of the transitional meningioma in 2012, but residual tumor was left behind. The patient was on surveillance until imaging showed growth of the residual tumor. The resection in 2022 proved atypical meningioma.

Rule M2, the first rule that applies, indicates this situation represents a single primary (a single tumor). However, Rule M4 states the transformation from a benign meningioma to a borderline meningioma would only be a single primary if the meningioma was a NOS.

This patient has microscopic confirmation of a meningioma showing different subtypes/variants (listed in Column 3, Table 6). Should this be accessioned as multiple primaries based on the transformation and distinctly different histologies?

Non-malignant CNS rule M4 applies, this is a single primary. This scenerio is covered in Example 2: A meningioma 9530/0 transforms into an atypical meningioma 9539/1. 

 2022
20220020

Histology--Thyroid: What is the correct histology code for a thyroidectomy with final diagnosis of “Right lower lobe: papillary microcarcinoma, conventional type, 0.8 cm. Isthmus: papillary microcarcinoma, follicular variant, 0.2 cm. Left lobe: Papillary carcinoma, conventional, unencapsulated.” See Discussion.

We were previously told that papillary microcarcinoma is coded to 8260 (papillary thyroid carcinoma) and not papillary microcarcinoma (8341). That is an area of confusion. 

Based on the information provided, code histology to follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (8340/3).  The tumor is a mix of papillary and follicular variants.

 2022
20220019

Solid Tumor Rules/Histology--Thyroid:  What is the correct histology code for a papillary carcinoma, encapsulated with columnar cell features?  See Discussion.

There is an ICD-O histology code for papillary carcinoma, columnar cell (8344/3) as well as papillary carcinoma, encapsulated (8343/3). Per Rule H13, the terms “with features of” may be used to identify a subtype.

Considering these two subtypes, and knowing there is no specific histology code for this combination, is the first rule that applies H17 (code the numerically higher histology code)?

Code to papillary carcinoma, encapsulated (C73.9) (8343/3) using Solid Tumor Rules, Other Sites, Rule H11, code the histology when only one histologic type is identified.  The usage of features is describing the cellular architecture of the encapsulated papillary carcinoma and does not necessarily indicate a specific histologic type. We consulted with our endocrine specialist pathologist who agrees and indicated terminology used in thryoid neoplasms is inconsistent.

 2022
20220018

Solid Tumor Rules/Histology--Thyroid:  What is the correct histology code for the following thyroid primary with multiple tumors abstracted as one primary diagnosed prior to 2021?  See Discussion.

2016 Total thyroidectomy, Multifocal

-Dominant Tumor:  Right Lobe, Papillary thyroid carcinoma (8260/3)

-Tumors two through five:  Three tumors Papillary thyroid carcinoma (8260/3), and one tumor Papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular variant (8340/3)

-An additional tumor: Non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (8343/2)

Code this multifocal thyroid carcinoma, single primary, as papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular variant (8340/3) using Solid Tumor Rules, Other Sites, Rule H13 that says to code the most specific histologic term. We consulted with our endocrine specialty pathologist and when there is a mix of papillary and follicular variants, assign 8340.

Non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features is coded as 8349/1 beginning in 2021.  According to the WHO Classification of Endocrine Organs, 4th edition, it was formerly classified as non-invasive encapsulated follicular variant of PTC (FVPTC) (8343/2) but was reclassified based on extremely low malignant potential.

 2022
20220017

Histology--Thyroid: What is the correct histology code for a thyroid resection showing papillary carcinoma, tall cell variant with oncocytic features with 30% of largest tumor (right) is tall cell variant and both foci contain benign multinucleated giant cells?  See Discussion.

There is an ICD-O histology code for papillary carcinoma, tall cell (8344/3) as well as papillary carcinoma, oxyphilic cell (8342/3). Per SINQ 20150045, the term oncocytic is synonymous with oxyphilic in this context.

The term “variant” can be used for the Other Sites (non-updated STR sites) primaries when the ICD-O-3.2 (or ICD-O-3 for older cases) includes the term “variant” in the histology name. The MPH General Instructions did not include the term “variant” as a term that can be used to code histology.

Code papillary carcinoma, tall cell variant with oncocytic features to papillary carcinoma, tall cell (C73.9) (8344/3).  The WHO Classification of Endocrine Organs states that this variant is composed of cells that are as tall as they are wide, and show abundant eosinophilic (oncocytic-like) cytoplasm.  Tall cells must account for greater than or equal to 30% of all tumor cells.

 2022
20220016

Histology--Thyroid:  What is the correct histology code for a follicular carcinoma, minimally invasive, oncocytic variant of the thyroid?  See Discussion.

There is an ICD-O histology code for follicular carcinoma, minimally invasive (8335/3) as well as follicular carcinoma, oxyphilic cell (8290/3). Per SINQ 20150045, the term oncocytic is synonymous with oxyphilic in this context.

The Multiple Primaries/Histology General Instructions and histology rules do not include the term “variant” as a term that can be used to code a further histologic subtype. The term “variant” can be used for the Other Sites (non-updated STR sites) when the ICD-O-3.2 (or ICD-O-3 for older cases) provides the term “variant” in the histology name.

Code follicular carcinoma, minimally invasive, oncocytic variant of the thyroid to follicular carcinoma, oncocytic variant (8290/3).  The term "variant" is commonly used in thyroid histologies and if appropriate, used to determine histology code. The WHO Classification of Tumors of Endocrine Organs, 4th edition, lists synonyms for 8290/3 as Hürthle cell carcinoma; oncoycytic carcinoma; oxyphilic carcinoma; follicular carcinoma, Hürthle cell type; and follicular carcinoma, oncocytic variant.

 2022
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.

 2022