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| Report | Question ID | Question | Discussion | Answer | Cancer Site Category | Data Item Category | Year |
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20120037 | Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: What is the primary site code for a primary effusion lymphoma if the patient has multiple regions that are positive (e.g., pleural and pericardial effusion and the pleural fluid) for lymphoma? | For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Per the Abstractor Notes in the Heme DB, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is unusual in that the majority of cases arise in body cavities, such as the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities. Because there are no ICD-O-3 codes for the pleural space, pericardium, or peritoneal cavity, code the primary site to pleura C384 when the neoplasm arises in the pleural cavity, to pericardium C380 when it occurs in the pericardium, and to peritoneal cavity C482 when it occurs in the peritoneum.
Typically only one body cavity is involved. However, if multiple regions are positive for PEL as in this case, code the primary site to C809 per Rule PH27. Rule PH27 indicates one is to code the to primary site C809 when there is no evidence of lymphoma in lymph nodes AND the physician in the medical record that he/she that the lymphoma in an
SEER*Educate provides training on how to use the Heme Manual and DB. If you are unsure how to arrive at the answer in this SINQ question, refer to SEER*Educate to practice coding hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms. Review the step-by-step instructions provided for each case scenario to learn how to use the application and manual to arrive at the answer provided. https://educate.fhcrc.org/LandingPage.aspx. |
Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms | Primary site | 2012 | |
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20100089 | Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is primary site coded when lymphoma is initially found in both lymph nodes and bone marrow, the pathology report is unavailable, and the physician only states that both areas are involved? See Discussion. | For many consultations and/or class 2 cases, the pathology report is not available to help determine the primary site. Should the primary site be automatically coded to C421 over C77_ when both are involved? The Abstractor Notes state the primary site can be either bone marrow or lymph nodes. The physician states only that both are involved. | For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Because both the bone marrow and LN are involved, code the primary site to C779 [lymph nodes, NOS] per Rule PH22. You are to code specific nodes if a specific region is specified; however, if no region is specified, code to lymph node, NOS [C779]). When you are having problems coding primary site, go to Module 7 Primary Site Rules for Lymphomas Only. See Rule PH26. It states that you code the primary site to bone marrow when ONLY the bone marrow is involved.
SEER*Educate provides training on how to use the Heme Manual and DB. If you are unsure how to arrive at the answer in this SINQ question, refer to SEER*Educate to practice coding hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms. Review the step-by-step instructions provided for each case scenario to learn how to use the application and manual to arrive at the answer provided. https://educate.fhcrc.org/LandingPage.aspx. |
Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms | Primary site | 2010 |
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20260013 | Primary Site--Colon: How is primary site assigned when the only documented term is “colorectal cancer?” See Discussion. |
Patient is diagnosed with adenocarcinoma documented by the physician as “colorectal cancer.” The medical record does not specify colon, rectosigmoid, rectum, or any specific segment of the large intestine. There is also no imaging, operative, endoscopic, or pathology documentation identifying a more precise site of origin. Specifically, should the registrar assign: · C18.9 — Colon NOS - (excludes rectum, NOS C20.9 and rectosigmoid junction C19.9) · C19.9 — Rectosigmoid junction · C20.9 — Rectum NOS · C26.0 — Intestinal tract, NOS · C26.9 — Gastrointestinal tract, NOS · or another site |
Assign primary site as colon, NOS (C18.9) when the only information about the diagnosis you have is "colorectal cancer." We consulted with a subject matter expert who believes that colon, NOS is closest to being correct and that rectosigmoid is not appropriate. If further information becomes available through further workup and/or treatment, update the primary site as appropriate. We will add clarification to the 2027 SEER Manual, Appendix C, Colon Coding Guidelines. |
Colon | Primary site | 2026 |
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20110056 | Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: What is the primary site for a post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) diagnosed on a brain biopsy? See Discussion. | A patient was diagnosed in 6/2010 with PTLD by a brain biopsy. PTLD typically involves lymph nodes. Can the primary site for PTLD be coded to the brain? | Updated May 2026
Per the Heme DB, PTLD commonly involves lymph nodes, GI tract, lungs, and liver. Although CNS involvement is rare, in solid organ recipients the CNS may be the only site of involvement or may be associated with multi-organ involvement. Code the primary site to C719 [brain, NOS] and the histology to 9971/3 [post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD)]
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Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms | Primary site | 2011 |
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20020046 | Primary Site: How do we code site when endometrioid carcinoma arises in "endometriosis"? | Code the Primary Site to where the endometriosis implanted, which may or may not be the endometrium. Endometrioid carcinoma can arise in the ovary, endometrium and other internal genital sites. The site/histology edit for endometrioid and ovary has been removed from the SEER edit set. | N/A | Primary site | 2002 | |
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20190005 | Primary Site--Bladder: Does instruction #4 in the Urinary Sites Solid Tumor Rules Instructions for Coding Primary Site apply to a mix of in situ and invasive urothelial tumors? Instruction #4: Code Urinary System NOS C689 when there are multiple non-contiguous tumors in multiple organs within the urinary system. See Discussion. |
Example: Patient has multiple biopsies with final diagnosis of in situ papillary urothelial carcinoma in the prostatic urethra and invasive papillary urothelial carcinoma in the bladder. How should primary site be coded in this type of mixed in situ and invasive situation? |
Code Urinary System NOS C689 for this case since there are two separate urinary sites involved. Apply instruction #4 when there is a mix of in situ and invasive urothelial tumors. |
Bladder | Primary site | 2019 |
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20130105 | Primary Site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is the primary site coded for a B-cell lymphoma intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma when a biopsy of the paraspinal muscle and epidural tissue is positive, but there is no indication of lymph node involvement in the chart? |
For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph. Code the primary site to soft tissue of the back, NOS [C496] per Rule PH24 and the Abstractor Notes in the Heme DB for B-cell lymphoma intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma. Code the primary site to the organ when lymphoma is present only in an organ. The lesion is described as epidural (tissue surrounding the dura) and involving paraspinal muscle, NOS. Both are connective or other soft tissues of the trunk, NOS [C496]. B-cell lymphoma intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma is a synonym for DLBCL 9680/3. When there is no primary site listed in the Heme DB, go to the Abstractor Notes. In the Abstractor Notes section it states that patients present with lymphadenopathy OR mass lesions in extranodal sites. SEER*Educate provides training on how to use the Heme Manual and DB. If you are unsure how to arrive at the answer in this SINQ question, refer to SEER*Educate to practice coding hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms. Review the step-by-step instructions provided for each case scenario to learn how to use the application and manual to arrive at the answer provided. https://educate.fhcrc.org/LandingPage.aspx. |
Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms | Primary site | 2013 | |
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20110099 | Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is primary site coded for bilateral pelvic lymph node involvement for lymphoma primaries? |
For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph. The PH rules for coding lymphomas (Module 7) refer to a lymph node region as defined by the ICD-O-3. Per the Appendix C, , the ICD-O-3 lymph node region for "pelvic" is C775. In this case, there is one lymph node region involved (bilaterally). Per Rule PH20, code the specific lymph node region when multiple lymph nodes within the same lymph node region (as defined by the ICD-O-3) are involved, C775. Per Note 1 under Rule PH20, use this rule when there is bilateral involvement of lymph nodes. This same table in Appendix C also provides information on how left and right pelvic lymph nodes are categorized by AJCC for purposes of coding stage. If the left and right pelvic lymph nodes are positive for lymphoma, it is involvement of two regions. The case is coded as Stage II. Keep in mind that the ICD-O-3 definition of regions is used to code the primary site, while the AJCC definition of regions is used to code stage. SEER*Educate provides training on how to use the Heme Manual and DB. If you are unsure how to arrive at the answer in this SINQ question, refer to SEER*Educate to practice coding hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms. Review the step-by-step instructions provided for each case scenario to learn how to use the application and manual to arrive at the answer provided. https://educate.fhcrc.org/LandingPage.aspx. |
Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms | Primary site | 2011 | |
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20051010 | Primary Site/Priorities--Breast: When there are conflicting references to subsite in different reports, which report has priority? See Discussion. | The clinical site of the palpable mass is outer quadrant. The pathologist states inflammatory breast cancer located in the central breast. Should the site be coded to C501 for central breast, C509 for inflammatory breast ca, or C508 for outer quadrant? | Code the breast subsite from the pathology report (C501, central). The priority order for coding subsite from conflicting reports is 1. Pathology report 2. Operative report 3. Physical examination 4. Mammogram, ultrasound The primary site of inflammatory breast carcinoma is coded to C509 when there is no palpable tumor. |
Breast | Primary site | 2005 |
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20000487 | Primary Site--Kaposi Sarcoma: Would the following Kaposi primaries be examples of cases not coded to skin for primary site? See discussion. | 1. KS developed initially as a lesion in the oral cavity and followed by the appearance of skin lesions.
2. KS found in a resected parotid gland with metastasis to the parotid gland lymph node. No skin lesions identified.
3. KS discovered in a biopsied 3 cm axillary lymph node. Clinically, the patient had hepatosplenomegaly, ascites, and extensive mesenteric lymph nodes. (No mention of skin.) |
Code the Primary Site field as follows:
1. C44.9 [Skin, NOS] as the default value when lesions develop simultaneously in skin and non-skin areas. 2. C07.9 [Parotid gland] 3. C44.9 [Skin, NOS] as the default value when there is no mention of lesions in the skin or other primary site.
Edward Klatt states in Practical AIDS Pathology, "...Visceral Kaposi (involving one or more internal organ sites) is also present in three-fourths of cases, but may not be diagnosed prior to autopsy. Visceral involvement frequently includes the lung, lymph nodes and gastro-intestinal tract." |
Sarcoma | Primary site | 2000 |
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