MP/H Rules/Multiple primaries--Breast: How many primaries are accessioned when a pathology specimen reveals one tumor with invasive mucinous carcinoma [8480/3] and a second tumor with in situ ductal carcinoma, solid and cribriform types [8523/2]?
For cases diagnosed 2007 or later, accession two primaries, invasive mucinous carcinoma [8480/3] and in situ ductal carcinoma, solid and cribriform types [8523/2].
The steps used to arrive at this decision are:
Go to the Breast MP rules found in the Multiple Primary and Histology Coding Rules Manual after determining the histology of each tumor (8480/3 and 8523/2).
Start at the MULTIPLE TUMORS module, rule M4. These tumors have ICD-O-3 histology codes that are different at the second (xxx) and third (xxx) number and are, therefore, multiple primaries.
Surgery of Primary Site/Immunotherapy--Bladder: Is administration of BCG coded as both surgery and immunotherapy?
Yes, code as both surgery and immunotherapy. The CoC included immunotherapy/BCG under surgery and also under immunotherapy by request of the clinical advisor for bladder, reflecting the mixed-modality nature of the treatments. [Answer from CoC I & R]
Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is the term "thrombocytopenia" equivalent to the term "refractory thrombocytopenia" and should be a subsequent primary if it follows a treated diagnosis of pancreatic cancer?
Thrombocytopenia NOS is not a reportable diagnosis per Appendix F. Thrombocytopenia and Refractory Thrombocytopenia are not the same disease.
Thrombocytopenia is caused by a decreased number of platelets in the blood. Non-malignant causes include disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), drug-induced non-immune thrombocytopenia, drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia, hypersplenism, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and infections of the bone marrow.
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.
EOD-Systemic Symptoms at Diagnosis--Lymphoma: Would the description, "three days of typical cold symptoms including congestion, sneezing, chills and advanced difficulty breathing and some fever" qualify as B-Symptoms?
For cases diagnosed 1998-2003:
Use the following criteria to determine whether or not certain clinical findings qualify as "B" symptoms.
1. Fevers. Unexplained fever with temperature above 38 degrees C.
2. Night sweats. Drenching sweats that require change of bedclothes.
3. Weight loss. Unexplained weight loss of more than 10% of the usual body weight in the 6 months prior to diagnosis.
Pruritus alone does not qualify for B classification, nor does alcohol intolerance, fatigue, or a short, febrile illness associated with suspected infections.
The clinical description in the example above does not meet the criteria for B symptoms. Generally, the symptoms in the B category have to occur over an extended period of 7 to 30 days. In this case the fever is explained by "typical cold symptoms" and in addition, three days of fever is not a long enough period.
Reason for No Cancer-Directed Surgery: Could you explain why this field would be coded to 1 [Cancer-directed surgery was not recommended] or 2 [Contraindicated due to other conditions] for a case that presents with distant metastasis at diagnosis?
For cases diagnosed 1998-2002:
Code the Reason for No Cancer-Directed Surgery field to 1 [Cancer-directed surgery was not recommended] for patients who present with either a primary site or histology for which surgery is not a standard treatment. Also use code 1 for those patients who present with distant disease for a primary site that is typically treated surgically. Patients with distant metastasis typically do not have surgery performed as part of first course of treatment.
Code 2 [Contraindicated due to other conditions] is used when surgery would normally be recommended for the site (given the current stage of the tumor) but other medical conditions pose too much of a risk for the patient to undergo surgery.
EOD-Extension--Lung: For a left upper lobe lung tumor that extends across the fissure into the left lower lobe, should this field be coded to 10 [Tumor confined to one lung] or 77 [Separate tumor nodules in different lobe]?
For cases diagnosed 1998-2003: Assign EOD extension code 10 [Tumor confined to one lung]. EOD extension code 10 applies to a single tumor within one lung, even one that crosses over a fissure into another lobe. EOD extension code 10 is not correct if the tumor extends to the pleura, or if there is atelectasis, obstructive pneumonitis or malignant pleural effusion. Code 77 is incorrect because that is a separate tumor nodule in a different lobe.
EOD-Clinical Extension--Prostate: How is this field coded when biopsies of the prostatic apex are positive and the physician clinically stages the case as T1c?
For cases diagnosed 1998-2003:
Code clinical extension to 33 [arising in the prostatic apex] when a biopsy of the prostatic apex is positive for malignancy, with no further evidence of involvement. If biopsies of both the apex and another site within the prostate (for example right lobe) are positive and there is no mention that the malignancy arose in the apex, code extension to 34 [extending into the prostatic apex].
Grade, Differentiation: Is grade always coded to 4 for a diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma?
Do not code the ICD-O-3 grade for Ewing sarcoma unless documented in the record.
In the TNM system, grade is required to place Ewing sarcoma into a stage group. For TNM staging purposes, Ewing sarcoma is classified as G4. Do not apply TNM rules to ICD-O coding.
EOD 2018/EOD Regional Nodes--Oropharynx: Is code 550 missing “< equal to 6 cm” in the data item EOD Regional Nodes for Oropharynx HPV-Associated, Version 9? Otherwise, bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes with extranodal extension (ENE) that are >6 cm could fit into 550 OR 650.
Code 550 is missing “< equal to 6 cm.” In addition, code 650 should include ipsilateral lymph nodes as well.
Revised codes:
Code 550
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT only
Bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, < equal to 6 cm WITH clinical evidence of ENE
Code 650
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT only
Ipsilateral, Bilateral or Contralateral lymph nodes > 6 cm WITH or WITHOUT clinical evidence of ENE
These changes will be implemented in Version 3.4 (October 2026). We apologize for the error.
An official website of the United States government
Home