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| Report | Question ID | Question | Discussion | Answer | Cancer Site Category | Data Item Category | Year |
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20110028 | MP/H Rules/Histology--Thyroid: How many primaries and what histology(ies) are coded when the pathology report shows a, 1.9 cm Hurthle cell carcinoma, probable follicular variant of papillary carcinoma, with Hurthle cell features and a 2 mm focus of follicular variant, papillary carcinoma? See Discussion. | Right lobectomy pathology report final diagnosis states: 1.9 cm Hurthle cell carcinoma (see comment). Comment: histologic diagnosis Hurthle cell carcinoma, probable follicular variant of papillary carcinoma with Hurthle cell features. Subsequent left lobectomy one week later showed a 2 mm microscopic focus of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma, encapsulated.
None of the rules seems to fit this scenario. The number of primaries reported for this case depends on the histology coded for each tumor. Does Rule M6 (Follicular and papillary tumors in the thyroid within 60 days of diagnosis are a single primary.) or M17 (Tumors with ICD-O-3 histology codes that are at the first (xxx), second (xxx) or third (xxx) number are multiple primaries.) apply? Does the case represent a single primary because both are papillary/follicular tumors or two primaries because one is Hurthle cell carcinoma, and one is papillary/follicular carcinoma (different histology at second digit)?
To code the histology for the larger tumor in the right lobe, which rule do we apply? Rule H11 (single histology of Hurthle cell carcinoma [8290] per path final diagnosis), H15 (tumor has both follicular and papillary carcinoma [8340], per path comment), or H17 (numerically higher code for 8340 because there is both Hurthle cell and papillary/follicular carcinoma)? |
Use the Multiple Primary and Histology Coding Rules Manual for cases diagnosed 2007 or later to determine the number of primaries. This is a single primary.
The Hurthle cell carcinoma is a synonym for follicular carcinoma according to the WHO. See page 67 of the 2004 WHO Classification of Tumours of Endocrine Organs. The steps used to arrive at this decision are:
Open the Multiple Primary and Histology Coding Rules manual. For a thyroid primary, use the Other Sites MP rules under one of the three formats (i.e., flowchart, matrix or text) to determine the number of primaries because the thyroid does not have site specific rules.
Start with the MULTIPLE TUMORS module, Rule M3. The rules are intended to be reviewed in consecutive order within the module from Rule M3 to Rule M18. You stop at the first rule that applies to the case you are processing.
. Follicular and papillary tumors in the thyroid within 60 days of diagnosis are a single primary. The patient has a tumor in each lobe of the thyroid with the same histology. Abstract a single primary for this patient.
Determine the histology code. For a thyroid, use one of the three formats (i.e., flowchart, matrix or text) under the Other Sites Histo rules to determine histology because thyroid primaries do not have site specific rules.
Start with the SINGLE TUMOR: INVASIVE ONLY module, Rule H8. The rules are intended to be reviewed in consecutive order within the module from Rule H8 to Rule H18. You stop at the first rule that applies to the case you are processing.
. Code follicular and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid to papillary carcinoma, follicular variant (8340). Use the comment to code the histology for the right lobectomy. "Probable" is an acceptable ambiguous term to use for coding histology. (See the Ambiguous Terms Used to Code Histology section of the General Instructions in the MP/H manual.) |
Thyroid | Histology | 2011 |
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20081127 | MP/H Rules/Histology--Thyroid: How would the histology "micropapillary carcinoma" of the thyroid be coded for cases dx'd 2007 and after? | For cases diagnosed 2007 or later, assign code 8260/3 [Papillary adenocarcinoma] according to rule H14. For thyroid cancer only, the term micropapillary does not refer to a specific histologic type. It means that the papillary portion of the tumor is minimal or occult, usually less than 1 cm. in diameter. |
Thyroid | Histology | 2008 | |
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20260003 | Solid Tumor Rules/Histology--Thyroid: What is the correct histology for invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (IEFVPTC)? The 2026 Solid Tumor Rules (STR) Manual, Other Sites Table 12, conflicts with the ICD-O-3.2. See Discussion. |
STR Manual, Table 12, Thyroid Histologies, includes "Invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma" as histology 8340/3 and is on its own row from other papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC). A new footnote was added which states, "IEFVPTC and Infiltrative follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (a PTC subtype) share a histology code, but they are distinctly different histologies. They are on different rows of the table and are different primaries." However, IEFVPTC (and its synonyms) are listed in the ICD-O-3.2 as 8343/3, and 8343/3 was listed as a subtype/variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma in previous versions of the STR Manual. |
Assign histology as 8340/3 for IEFVPTC using the STR Manual, 2026 Update. Rule M18, Note 2, of the Other Sites STR state: Invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma and Infiltrative follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma share a histology code (8340) but are distinctly different entities. They are on separate rows of the table. WHO Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors, 5th ed., indicates that after classic PTC, the follicular variant of PTC (FVPTC) is the second most common histological subtype of PTC. Two major forms are known, infiltrative FVPTC and invasive encapsulated FVPTC. The majority of follicular PTCs are encapsulated FVPTCs, whereas infiltrative FVPTC is quite rare and clinically behaves like classic PTC. |
Thyroid | Histology | 2026 |
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20091102 | MP/H Rules/Histology--Thyroid: How should histology be coded for a diagnosis of "papillary sclerosing carcinoma" with an additional description of the tumor being "nonencapsulated"? See Discussion. | Pathology report reads, "Papillary sclerosing carcinoma." In one case, the results are in CAP protocol format and next to 'Encapsulation of tumor' it says 'No.' In the other case, it is not in CAP format, but the microscopic description says, 'encapsulation of tumor - no.' Is the correct code 8350? | For cases diagnosed 2007 or later, code 8350 [Nonencapsulated sclerosing carcinoma] per MP/H Other Sites Rule H11. The definition for 8350 in the Morphology section of ICD-O-3 includes nonencapsulated as well as diffuse sclerosing papillary carcinoma. When the pathologist states 'No' for encapsulated, that means nonencapsulated. | Thyroid | Histology | 2009 |
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20041037 | Multiple Primaries (Pre-2007)/Histology (Pre-2007)/Grade, Differentiation--Thyroid: How many primaries, with what histologies should be coded when a thyroidectomy reveals "anaplastic carcinoma" and "papillary carcinoma" occurring as two separate tumors? See Discussion. | Example: Thyroidectomy revealed anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid with mets to lymph nodes. The path report stated that the thyroid specimen also contained a small papillary carcinoma. Differentiation for the papillary carcinoma was not stated. | For tumors diagnosed prior to 2007:
Accession and code as two thyroid primaries: Anaplastic carcinoma [8021/34] Papillary carcinoma [8260/39]
For tumors diagnosed 2007 or later, refer to the MP/H rules. If there are still questions about how this type of tumor should be coded, submit a new question to SINQ and include the difficulties you are encountering in applying the MP/H rules. |
Thyroid | Histology | 2004 |
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20031133 | First Course Treatment--Thyroid: Is hormone replacement following total thyroidectomy coded as first course treatment for all thyroid cases? | Code Hormone therapy as 01 [Hormone therapy administered as first course therapy] when thyroid replacement therapy is part of the first course of treatment for follicular or papillary thyroid cancer following thyroidectomy. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy has a treatment effect on differentiated (follicular and papillary) carcinomas of the thyroid. This treatment effect is not seen for most medullary and undifferentiated thyroid cancers. |
Thyroid | First course treatment | 2003 | |
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20091031 | MP/H Rules/Histology--Thyroid: How is histology coded for a thyroid tumor described as "predominantly papillary carcinoma, tall cell variant, follicular type"? | For cases diagnosed 2007 or later, assign code 8340 [Papillary carcinoma, follicular variant] according to rule H15 for Other Sites. "Predominantly" and "type" indicate specific histologies. "Variant" does not. See rule H13. The histology in this case is papillary and follicular. Tall cell variant is ignored. |
Thyroid | Histology | 2009 | |
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20190018 | Histology--Thyroid: Should any mention of encapsulated be included in the histology coding (8343/3 vs. 8260/3) for papillary thyroid carcinoma cases? See Discussion. |
Example: Left thyroid lobectomy with final diagnosis When the only mention of encapsulation is included in the tumor characteristics of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) summary, not the pathologist's choice of histologic type, what is the preferred histology? |
Assign 8343/3 for encapsulated variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. If the pathology report is not available, use the histologic type in addition to other information in the CAP Protocol. |
Thyroid | Histology | 2019 |
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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. |
Thyroid | Histology | 2022 |
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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. |
Thyroid | Histology | 2022 |
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