| Report | Question ID | Question | Discussion | Answer | Year |
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20240006 | Primary Site/Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: What are the correct primary site and histology for patient diagnosed with an oropharyngeal soft tissue mass revealing plasma cell neoplasm with 5-10% of marrow cellularity in 2022? See Discussion. |
Patient underwent excision of an oropharyngeal soft tissue mass revealing plasma cell neoplasm with extensive amyloid deposition. During work-up, bone marrow biopsy also revealed involvement by plasma cell neoplasm, with 5-10% of marrow cellularity. No amyloid seen in bone marrow. Patient was referred for radiation of the oropharyngeal mass. Per medical oncology qualifying best for the diagnosis of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma with minimal marrow involvement. Decision made for observation by medical oncology in view of “minimal” bone marrow involvement. Question: Is rule M11 correct, and I abstract this case as a plasma cell myeloma, 9732/3, C421? |
Updated May 2026 Code as an oropharyngeal primary site and histology as solitary plasmacytoma (9734/3) based on the pathologist's diagnosis of extramedullary plasmacytoma with minimal bone marrow involvement (and a diagnosis consistent with "plasma cell neoplasm" which is not multiple myeloma). Our expert hematopathologist was consulted on this case. |
2024 |
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20130032 | Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is the primary site coded for plasma cell myeloma with radiologic evidence of multiple lytic lesions? See Discussion. | Patient complained of pain in the right side and back right upper flank area. CT shows an anterior mediastinal mass and abnormal appearance of skeleton. CXR: Age indeterminate T8 compression fracture. CT chest: abnormal appearance of skeleton. Correlate clinically for myeloma or mets. Acute T5 or T8 compression fractures. Anterior mediastinal mass which may represent thymoma, lymph nodes or metastases. 03/22/12 Metastatic Series: Nonspecific hypodensities in pelvis, left hip and right acromion. Possibility of myeloma can't be totally excluded. Bone marrow right post iliac crest core biopsy, clot section and aspirate: plasma cell myeloma.
Should the primary site be coded to the bone marrow because the diagnosis of plasma cell myeloma was supported by radiologic evidence of multiple lytic lesions? The bone marrow biopsy confirmed the radiology reports. |
Updated May 2026 Code the primary site to C421 [bone marrow] per the Heme DB. The Primary Site(s) section in the Heme DB indicates the primary site for plasma cell myeloma is C421 [bone marrow]. |
2013 |
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20210053 | Reportability/Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is ALK positive (ALK+) histiocytosis involving the bone marrow and kidney reportable? See Discussion. |
2021 Bone marrow biopsy showed erythroid hyperplasia, increased histiocytes with hemophagocytosis and Factor XIIIa positive histocytic cells. Moderate cytoplasmic staining for ALK 1, consistent with bone marrow involvement of ALK-positive histiocytosis. A subsequent kidney lesion biopsy was also found to have ALK-positive histiocytosis. The patient was then treated with clofarabine. Patient is 3 years old. 07/2020-Chart indicates patient presented in June with fevers and refusing to walk with pancytopenia, bone marrow biopsy showed no leukemia buthistiocytes. Impression: ALK positive histiocytosis involving BM and kidney. 10/2020 Bone marrow final diagnosis states right and left bone marrow aspirates and biopsies: No morphologic or immunohistochemical evidence of involvement by the patient's previously diagnosed ALK+ histiocytosis (see Comments) - Multiple histiocytic collections with prominent hemosiderin; favor reactive - background normocellular bone marrow with maturing trilineage hematopoiesis. The patient's prior bone marrow samples are reviewed (9/2020 and 7/2020). Similar to the September bone marrow sample, the current marrow shows numerous histiocyte collections with abundant associated hemosiderin deposition. These histiocytes have a stellate/dendritic appearance and lack the atypical features noted in the patient's marrow at diagnosis, favoring a reactive process. This impression is further supported by the lack of immunoreactivity for either Factor XIIIa or ALK1 among these cells. There is no convincing morphologic or immunohistochemical evidence of marrow involvement by the patient's previously diagnosed ALK+ histiocytosis within the sampled material. Of note, the marrow otherwise appears normocellular for the patient's age, indicative of ongoing marrow recovery post therapy. It is not clear whether this would be equivalent to Langerhans cell histiocytosis, disseminated (9751/3) as there is not a statement of Langerhans cell or whether this is just histiocytosis, NOS and not reportable. |
Updated May 2026 Do not report this case of histiocytosis. Based on the information provided, this case is not reportable. For cases diagnosed 2026+, this is reportable as 9750/3. See the Hematopoietic Database. |
2021 |
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20110048 | First course treatment--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is a "donor lymphocyte infusion" that is used in the treatment of CLL coded? | Updated May 2026 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.
See "Treatments" for CLL/SLL (9823/3) |
2011 | |
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20130162 | Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is erythrocytosis of an unknown cause a reportable disease? | Updated May 2026 Erythrocytosis of an unknown cause is not reportable for any year of diagnosis.
The diagnosis must state "erythrocytosis megalosplenic" to be reportable (9950/3). |
2013 | |
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20100033 | Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is this field coded for a case described as follicular lymphoma, grade 3a/3 [9698/3], with focal areas of diffuse large B cell lymphoma [9680/3] (approximately 10%)? Does the term "focal" have the same significance in Heme cases as it does for solid tumors? See Discussion. |
Per rule PH11, "Code the primary site to the site of origin (lymph node region(s), tissue, or organ) and code the histology 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."
Should the focal diffuse large B cell lymphoma be ignored in this case and rule PH11 not be applied? To apply rule PH11, does the follicular lymphoma have to be NOS [9690/3] or does PH11 include all grades of follicular lymphoma [9695/3, 9691/3, 9698/3]? |
Updated May 2026 First, you need to determine how many primaries are to be accessioned. Per Rule M4, abstract a single primary when two or more types of non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma are present in the same biopsy specimen (same lymph node, same organ, or same tissue specimen).
Code the histology to 9680/3 [Diffuse large B cell lymphoma] per rule PH11 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. Follicular lymphoma (FL), which is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, includes FL, NOS, FL grade 1, FL grade 2 and FL grade 3.
Focal, foci, and focus are not used in the hematopoietic rules, meaning that you DO NOT ignore histology terms described as focal, foci, or focus |
2010 |
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20160052 | Summary Stage 2000--Lymphoma: How is SEER SS2000 coded for an ocular adnexal lymphoma when it extends from the primary site to adjacent sites that are still orbital structures? See Discussion. |
In this case, the lymphoma arose in the posterior orbit and the primary site was coded as C696 (orbit, NOS). The mass directly extended to at least one "adjacent" site, the lacrimal gland. Should SS2000 be coded to 1 (localized) or 5 (regional, NOS) when an ocular adnexal lymphoma arises in the posterior orbit and extends to involve the lacrimal gland? Although both the posterior orbit and the lacrimal gland are parts of the orbit, they have separate ICD-O-3 topography codes. Should extension to multiple sites within the orbit be classified as localized disease?
The issue is what constitutes "adjacent" structures for a tumor that arises in the orbit. In an article published by the Indian Journal of Opthamology it states, "According to the Ann-Arbor staging system, lymphoma confined to the orbit is designated as Stage I, involvement of adjacent structures (sinuses, tonsil and nose) makes it Stage II." Does SEER agree with this definition of "adjacent" structures? Or are the lacrimal gland, ciliary body, retina, conjunctiva and/or choroid "adjacent" structures for a lymphoma stated to arise in the posterior orbit? |
Updated May 2026 For cases diagnosed prior to 2018, assign SEER SS2000 code 5 (Regional, NOS) in the Lymphoma chapter for a lymphoma of orbit extending to lacrimal gland. In SEER SS2000, this is Stage IIE: Direct extension to adjacent organs or tissues. For cases diagnosed 2018+, see Summary Stage 2018, Lymphoma Ocular Adnexa chapter, Code 2 (Regional Extension)
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2016 |
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20091048 | Surgery of Primary Site--Lymphoma/Soft Tissue: How is this field coded for an excision of a neck mass that found lymphoma in soft tissue (C49.0)? See Discussion. | CT scan showed soft tissue mass in the retropharynx. 9/23/2008 Laryngoscopy with biopsy taken of left tonsil and left base of tongue and random biopsies of nasopharynx; FNA of left neck. Path stated left tonsil, squamous papilloma. Left base of tongue, no significant histopathology. Nasopharynx biopsies, compatible with tonsillar tissue. Pretracheal lymph node biopsies, mild reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. 9/30/2008 Excision of left neck mass with limited deep jugular chain lymph node dissection. Path stated lymph node left jugular biopsy, no tumor seen. Soft tissue, left neck biopsy, malignant B cell lymphoma with plasmacytoid differentiation. Addendum from consult: favor a diagnosis of a marginal zone lymphoma. Per the gross description, the specimen was fibrofatty connective tissue in which there is a tumor infiltrate. | Updated May 2026 For cases diagnosed prior to 2023: Assign code 26 [partial resection]. Use the surgery codes that apply to the primary site, C490-C499. For cases diagnosed 2023+, see code A260. |
2009 |
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20170014 | Reportability/Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is a physician statement that a patient has a malignant histiocytic disorder best described as Erdheim-Chester disease reportable? If reportable, should histology be coded to 9751/3? See Discussion. |
The patient had a mediastinal mass biopsy showing fibrosclerotic tissue with patchy lymphohistiocytic foci and scattered plasma cells, followed by a retroperitoneal mass biopsy showing fibrohistiocytic infiltrate. Erdheim-Chester disease is not reportable per the Heme Database. However, the physician specifically states this is a malignant disorder. |
Updated May 2026 For years prior to 2021, Erdheim-Chester disease is not reportable. Starting in 2021, Erdheim-Chester disease is reportable and coded 9749/3. See the Hematopoietic database. |
2017 |
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20130215 | Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis synonymous with an EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder in children reportable? See Discussion. |
Pathology report states: Prominent T-cell infiltrate with frequent immunoblast-like cells. COMMENT: Findings consistent with an acute EBV-associated hemophagocytic process. In addition, there is a prominent CD8 + T-cell infiltrate with many large, activated forms. This T-cell process may represent an EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder in children. EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder in children is listed in the Heme database. However, throughout multiple admissions, the oncologist states the diagnosis as "hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis". Are the two the same condition? The patient is being treated with Etoposide. |
Updated May 2026 Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is not reportable for any year. The oncologist likely used the pathology report and clinical factors to determine the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, which is not reportable. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is caused by an over stimulated immune system (infection, etc.). This clinical syndrome is associated with a variety of underlying conditions. To be reportable, it must state "fulminant hemophagocytic syndrome" (in a child) to be reportable (9724/3). The pathology report for this case is not definitive. It states that the process "may" represent the EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder in children. Follow back on this case to confirm reportability if possible. |
2013 |
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