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Report Produced: 10/08/2026 00:09 AM

Report Question ID Question Discussion Answer Cancer Site Category Data Item Category Year
20000431

Surgery Fields--Multiple sites: What code is used to represent these fields for the following surgical procedures?

1. Tongue, NOS - Hemiglossectomy with lymph node dissection

2. Choroid - Eye enucleation

3. Vulva, NOS - Vulvectomy with bilateral lymph node dissection

4. Gallbladder - Cholecystectomy

5. Lung - Laminectomy with partial removal of tumor

For cases diagnosed 1/1/03 and later:

1. Code Surgery of Primary Site to 30 and Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery to 3.

2. Code Surgery of Primary Site to 41.

3. Code Surgery of Primary Site to 40 and Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery to 3.

4. Code Surgery of Primary Site to 40.

5. Code Surgical Procedure of Other Site to 4.

 N/A N/A 2000
20140009

Primary site: What primary site do I assign to a Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the parapharyngeal space when there is no other info available regarding a more definitive site within the parapharyngeal space? Each physician involved with the case states the primary site is the parapharyngeal space. This is a patient who was diagosed and treated elswhere and was seen at our hospital several months later for a radical neck dissection for suspected lymph node mets.

Assign C139 for a primary originating in the parapharyngeal space. This space contains part of the parotid gland, adipose tissue, lymph nodes, nerves, arteries and veins.

 N/A Primary site 2014
20021115 EOD-Lymph Nodes--Testis: In coding lymph node involvement for a testicular primary, should we use code 5 (Size not stated) when there is not a pathologic size of the lymph node provided? See discussion. Should Note 1 in the testis EOD be changed to "Metastases in lymph nodes are now measured by the size of the lymph node as stated in pathology report"? The SEER EOD-88, 3rd Edition, states that "when size of regional lymph nodes is required, code from the pathology report."

For cases diagnosed 1998-2003:

For testis cases only, "metastasis in lymph nodes" is measured by the size of the lymph node or the lymph node mass. It is acceptable to code the size of this metastasis from a CT scan or other imaging when a pathology specimen is not available for testicular primaries.

 N/A N/A 2002
20031118 Primary Site/EOD-Extension--Kaposi Sarcoma: How are these fields coded for localized disease described as "Nodal Kaposi Sarcoma" found on inguinal node biopsy only?

Code the site of involvement as the primary site when no other involvement is documented. For the case above, code C774 [inguinal lymph node] as primary site.

For cases diagnosed 1998-2003: Code EOD-extension as 13 [Visceral].

 N/A Primary site 2003
20230020

First Course Treatment/Reason for No Surgery of Primary Site: How should Reason for No Surgery of Primary Site be coded for cases when surgery was planned but aborted due to extent of disease seen during planned procedure?  See Discussion.

Lung abnormality on imaging prompted diagnosis on subsequent biopsy and clinical staging was documented as cT1b N0 M0. There was an attempt at resection, but the patient was found to have chest wall involvement and the procedure was aborted.

How would Reason for No Surgery of Primary Site be coded in these types of scenarios when the surgery is aborted and the treatment plan changes due to the extension seen during surgery?

For the example provided: For 2023 cases and forward, if no part of the surgery was performed, code Surgery of Primary Site 2023 (NAACCR Item #1291) as code A000 or B000 (no surgical procedure of the primary site).  Code Reason for No Surgery of Primary Site (NAACCR Item #1340) as code 2 (surgery of the primary site was not recommended/performed because it was contraindicated due to patient risk factors (comorbid conditions, advanced age, progression of tumor prior to planned surgery, etc.).

In contrast, if any part of the surgery was performed, assign the Surgery of Primary Site 2023 (NAACCR Item #1291) code that best reflects the extent of the surgery performed.  Code Reason for No Surgery of Primary Site (NAACCR Item #1340) as code 0 (surgery of the primary site was performed).

Use text fields to record the details.

For cases prior to 2023, apply the same approach using Surgery of Primary Site (NAACCR Item #1290) instead of Surgery of Primary Site 2023 (NAACCR Item #1291).

 N/A Reason no treatment, Surgery of Primary Site 2023
20230022

Solid Tumor Rules/Multiple Primaries: What M Rule of the updated Solid Tumor Rules, Other Sites, applies to a 2022 diagnosis of endometrial cancer, followed greater than one year later by a 2023 diagnosis of esophageal cancer with no interim evidence of tumor recurrence? See Discussion.

These diagnoses were made greater than one year apart with a disease-free interval and M12 seems to be the first rule that applies. This rule does not specifically state the tumors diagnosed greater than 1 year apart must be in the same primary site but Note 1 could be interpreted as implying this. Note 1 states, “Clinically disease-free means that there was no evidence of recurrence in the same site on follow-up.”

Does Other Sites Rule M12 (the timing rule) apply to tumors in different primary sites? It would be helpful if the notes specified this clarification, such as “Clinically disease-free means that there was no evidence of recurrence in the same site (same second and third character CXX.X) on follow-up.”

Abstract multiple primaries using the Solid Tumor Rules, Other Sites, Rule M13.  The topography differs at the second and third characters (C54.1 Endometrium; C15 Esophagus).  Rule M12 refers to being disease-free vs. recurrence of a tumor, where Note 1 states that clinically disease-free means no evidence of recurrence in the same site on follow up.

A note can be added to clarify that M12 applies to new tumors in the SAME site.

 N/A N/A 2023
20000420 Date of Diagnosis--All Sites: Is it better to estimate the month in the date of diagnosis field using the re-excision pathology report date or code the month to unknown if the only available information is the re-excision date? See discussion.

The only available information is the following pathology report:

On 7/18/00 a wide excision of the primary lesion is done. The report reads, "Lesion approximately 1 cm. Residual superficial spreading malignant melanoma with deepest penetration 4 mm."

Code the Date of Diagnosis field to 07/2000 for this case. Estimate the month of diagnosis whenever possible.

Given the usual delay between the initial excision of the lesion and a wide excision for a melanoma, estimate the month of diagnosis as July.

 N/A Date of diagnosis 2000
20051090 Histology--Leukemia: How is "T-Cell prolymphocytic leukemia, cerebriform (Sezary cell-like) variant" coded when the pathology report COMMENT states: The cerebriform (Sezary cell-like) variant accounts for about 5% of cases of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia?

For cases diagnosed prior to 1/1/2010:

9834/3 [Prolymphocytic leukemia, T-cell type]. According to the WHO Classification of Haematopeietic and Lymphoid Tissue Tumours, cerebriform or Sezary cell-like is a variant form of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.

For cases diagnosed 2010 forward, refer to the Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Neoplasm Case Reportability and Coding Manual and the Hematopoietic Database (Hematopoietic DB) provided by SEER on its website to research your question. If those resources do not adequately address your issue, submit a new question to SINQ.

 N/A Histology 2005
20250007

Reportability/Behavior: Our registry collects some borderline (behavior /1) cases that are not reportable to SEER or any other standard setters. Can we assign a behavior code of /2 to these cases?

Do not assign a behavior code of /2 to these cases unless you have a way to flag them so that they are not reported to the standard setters as in situ cases. Work with your state central registry to ensure that these cases are not unintentionally included in state case submission.

 N/A Behavior 2025
20061030 Reportability: Is a carcinoid of the appendix that extends into mesoappendiceal adipose tissue reportable? See SINQ 20031106. No. Extension does not make a carcinoid of the appendix reportable. Benign and borderline tumors can and do extend into surrounding tissue. N/A N/A 2006