| Report | Question ID | Question | Discussion | Answer | Year |
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20021172 | EOD-Extension--Head & Neck: How much information is needed for a head and neck primary in order to code extension to localized versus unknown? What code is used to represent this field when the only information for a buccal cavity primary is a positive aspiration of the buccal mass? | For cases diagnosed 1998-2003:
Code the EOD-Extension to 99 [Unknown] for this case until more information is received. The available information does not describe the primary site and there is a complete lack of staging information.
Head and neck cancers spread early and often to nodes. Do not code the EOD-Extension to localized when the information is as limited as it is for this example. |
2002 | |
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20041103 | Histology (Pre-2007)/Behavior Code/Sequence Number-Central -- Ovary: How are these fields coded for a "serous tumor of low malignant potential" when lymph nodes are discovered to be involved? | For tumors diagnosed 2001-2006:
This ovarian tumor is not SEER reportable if diagnosed between 2001-2006. The histology and behavior codes are 8442/1 [serous cystadenoma, borderline malignancy]. Sequence is coded appropriately from 60-88 [non-malignant tumor or central registry-defined neoplasm].
The behavior code could be changed to /3 only when the pathologist states that the disease is malignant. Approximately 20% of serous tumors of low malignant potential have lymph node involvement, according to the WHO Classification of Ovarian Tumours. In ovarian serous tumors of low malignant potential, lymph node involvement is not always equivalent to metastasis and does not signify malignancy in these tumors unless definitely stated as such by the pathologist.
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. |
2004 | |
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20051081 | Primary Site--Bladder: What subsite is used for fundus of the bladder? | As of November 2005, Code fundus of bladder to C678 [overlapping lesion of bladder]. Opinions vary regarding the definition of bladder "fundus." However, according to our pathologist consultant, fundus includes posterior, anterior and lateral walls and dome. Fundus does not include the trigone. A correction to page C-595 of the 2004 SEER manual will be included in the next errata. |
2005 | |
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20081064 | MP/H Rules--Bladder: Is a TURBT in 4/07 that demonstrates papillary carcinoma (8130/3) followed two weeks later with biopsies that demonstrate high grade flat dysplasia/carcinoma in situ (8010/2) two primaries? |
For cases diagnosed 2007 or later, rule M6 applies and this is a single primary. Flat transitional cell carcinoma and carcinoma in situ of the bladder are synonymous. See the definition of "Flat Tumor (bladder)/Noninvasive flat TCC" in the Urinary Terms and Definitions section of the 2007 MP/H manual. |
2008 | |
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20021187 | Reportability: When a hospital pathologist sends the slides from an original biopsy to two or more outside reviewers and the reviewers differ on whether or not the case is reportable, is the case SEER reportable? Does the decision to treat the patient have any bearing on whether the case would be reportable? |
Typically, the final diagnosis of the reviewing pathologist is the one used to determine whether the case is SEER reportable. If two or more reviewing pathologists disagree as to whether the case should be reportable, determine reportability based on the following priority order: 1) If the patient is treated for cancer, the case is reportable. 2) If the patient is not treated for cancer, use the amended diagnosis on the original pathology report if the hospital pathologist used the reviewing pathologists' opinions in establishing his new diagnosis. 3) If there is not an amended diagnosis for the original hospital pathology report, use the clinician's opinion regarding what the diagnosis is to determine whether the case is reportable. |
2002 | |
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20120072 | Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is the primary site coded for a diagnosis of multifocal Langerhans cell histiocytosis with involvement of the bone, liver, spleen and retroperitoneum? |
For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph. Per Rule PH30, use the Heme DB to determine the primary site and histology when rules PH1-PH29 do not apply. Code the primary site to C419 [bone, NOS], assuming there are multiple bones involved in this case. If only one bone is involved, code the primary site to the specified bone. In the Abstractor Notes section in the Heme DB, it indicates the primary site may differ for LCH in the solitary disease and multisystem disease. This patient has multisystem disease with involvement of the bone, liver, spleen and retroperitoneum. The most common sites for multisystem involvement include three of the four above sites (bone, liver, and spleen). Determine the primary site based on the knowledge of the usual sites of involvement for this disease, the actual sites of involvement for the case presented, and identifying which sites of involvement are likely metastatic and which are the potential primary sites. There are two potential primary sites of involvement: the bone and the retroperitoneum. Bone is a common site of involvement for LCH while the retroperitoneum is not. Code the primary site to C419 [bone, NOS] because multiple bones are involved for this patient and bone is the most common site for LCH based on the documentation in the Abstractor Notes. The spleen and liver are typically not primary sites for this disease process. They become involved when there is multisystem involvement because they filter the blood. They are typically sites of metastatic involvement. This information will be added to the ABSTRACTOR NOTE section. 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. |
2012 | |
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20021197 | Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery--Breast: How should this field be coded when a mastectomy that removed 3 sentinel lymph nodes is later followed by an axillary lymph node dissection that removed 17 lymph nodes? Should all of the lymph node information be coded to this field, even though the Number of Regional Lymph Nodes Examined field will be coded to the number of lymph nodes from the most definitive surgery (17)? | For cases diagnosed 1/1/2003 and after: Yes, all of the lymph node information should be coded to the Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery field using code 7 [Sentinel node biopsy and code 3, 4, or 5 at different times].
The Number of Regional Lymph Nodes Examined field no longer exists for this time frame. |
2002 | |
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20130110 | Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is a diagnosis of "coagulable state" reportable? | For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
The term "coagulable state" is not reportable. This is not a a neoplasm. The term means capable of coagulating or capable of becoming thick. There are neoplasms, such as polycythemia vera, in which the blood becomes thick; however, you must have an actual reportable diagnosis in order to accession the case.
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. |
2013 | |
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20190086 | EOD 2018/EOD Primary Tumor--Melanoma: The code and level translations in the Note 4 of Extent of Disease (EOD) Primary Tumor for Melanoma Skin seem incorrect. Please advise. * Code 000: In situ * Code 100: Level I (should be level II) (< 0.75 mm Breslow's Depth) * Code 200: Level II (should be level III) (0.76 mm to 1.50 mm Breslow's Depth) * Code 300: Level III (should be level IV) (> 1.50 mm Breslow's Depth) |
Please see the corrected levels below for the note. Note 4: If a Breslow's depth is given in the pathology report and there is no other indication of involvement, the following guidelines may be used (Note: If a physician documents a different Clark's Level than provided by these guidelines, go with the physician's Clark Level) Code 000: Level I (In situ) Code 100: Level II (< 0.75 mm Breslow's Depth) Code 200: Level III (0.76 mm to 1.50 mm Breslow's Depth) Code 300: Level IV (> 1.50 mm Breslow's Depth) Thank you for bringing this to our attention. |
2019 | |
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20010027 | Histology (Pre-2007)--Prostate: What code is used to represent the histology "adenocarcinoma, cribriform type"? | For tumors diagnosed prior to 2007:
Code the Histology field to 8201/3 [cribriform carcinoma]. The word "type" is a term that indicates majority of the tumor. The term "cribriform" would be a term used to determine the histology code.
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. |
2001 |
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