MP/H Rules/Histology--Prostate: If a patient is stated to have prostate "cancer" but a pathology report is not available nor is a specific histology stated in the medical record, can this histology be coded to 8140 [adenocarcinoma] instead of 8000/3 [cancer] because the vast majority of prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas?
For cases diagnosed 2007 and later, the correct histology code is 8000/3 [cancer]. The steps used to arrive at this decision are:
Open the Multiple Primary and Histology Coding Rules Manual. Choose one of the three formats (i.e., flowchart, matrix or text). Go to the Other Sites Histology rules because no specific rules have been developed for prostate primaries.
To determine the histology, start at the SINGLE TUMOR: INVASIVE ONLY module, rule H8. The rules are intended to be reviewed in consecutive order within a module. Code the histology documented by the physician when there is no pathology/cytology specimen or the pathology/cytology report is not available. Code the histology as 8000/3 [cancer] because that is the only available information. In the absence of a pathology report or any other histologic confirmation, code the histology based on the information available.
Primary Site/EOD-Extension/EOD-Lymph Nodes--All Sites: What codes are used to represent these fields for an "extramedullary myeloid tumor (granulocytic sarcoma)" of the colon with positive or negative lymph nodes?
For cases diagnosed 1998-2003:
If only the extramedullary site is involved, such as colon, code the Primary Site field to the site of origin. Granulocytic or myeloid sarcoma is an exception to the rule that all leukemias should be coded to bone marrow as the primary site. Granulocytic sarcoma is a deposit of malignant myeloid cells in a site other than bone marrow (extramedullary). For EOD staging, granulocytic sarcoma [9930/3] is included in the Hematopoietic, Reticuloendothelial, Immunoproliferative and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms scheme and the Extension field is coded to 10 when the lymph nodes are negative, since it (like solitary plasmacytoma) is a localized deposit of tumor.
However, if the regional lymph nodes associated with the extramedullary primary site are involved, code the EOD-Extension field to 80 [Systemic disease] because the disease is no longer an isolated deposit of malignant granulocytes (in other words, it is not localized).
The EOD-Lymph Nodes field is coded to 9 regardless of whether or not the lymph nodes are involved because that is the only allowable code for that field.
Hematologic Transplant and Endocrine Procedures--Breast: Is a bone marrow transplant first course of cancer-directed therapy for breast cancer? If yes, are time guidelines relating to the first "remission" the same as for those used in leukemia primaries?
For cases diagnosed 1/1/2003 and after: A bone marrow transplant can be first course of therapy for cases in which there has been no progression of disease between the initial therapy (e.g., surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) and the bone marrow transplant. Code Hematologic Transplant and Endocrine Procedures field to 10-12 or 40 (depending on the type of bone marrow transplant performed).
Do not use leukemia treatment time guidelines when coding breast cancer treatment.
Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is a peripheral blood equivalent to bone marrow biopsy for the purposes of Rule PH26 and code the primary site to C421 [Bone marrow] for a marginal zone lymphoma found in peripheral blood when there was no additional workup (e.g., scans, etc.) for this case?
Code the primary site to C421 [bone marrow]. Our hematopoietic specialty physicians state that involvement of peripheral blood is equivalent to bone marrow involvement because the marrow produces blood. In the absence of any other involvement, per Module 7 (Coding primary sites for lymphomas) Rule PH26, it states to code the primary site to bone marrow when the only involvement is 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.
Reportability/Behavior--Thymus: Are "lymphocyte predominant thymoma with microscopic capsule invasion" and "Polygonal epithelial cell thymoma with invasion of the lung and pericardial fat" reportable?
Please see SINQ 20110038 for the most recent information on reporting thymoma.
Multiple Primaries (Pre-2007)--Vulva/Vagina: SEER Program Code Manual rule #3 on page 11 states "If a new cancer of the same histology is diagnosed in the same site after two months, consider this new cancer a separate primary unless stated to be recurrent or metastatic. Should vulva and vagina be exceptions to rule #3, as are prostate and bladder?
For tumors diagnosed prior to 2007:
No. There is no exception for vulva or vagina.
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.
MP/H Rules/Multiple primaries--Breast: Does breast Rule M10, 'Tumors that are lobular (8520) and intraductal or duct are a single primary" apply if you have two tumors in the same breast, one ductal and the other tubulolobular (8524) or are they separate primaries per Rule M12?
Apply Rule M10 to this case. Tubulolobular is now classified as a variant of lobular. Code to lobular, NOS (8520) because Tubulolobular does not have a specific ICD-O-3 code.
EOD-Pathologic Review of Number of Regional Lymph Nodes Positive and Examined: What codes are used to represent these fields when only a regional lymph node (positive) aspiration is performed?
For cases diagnosed 1998-2003:
With the exception of those sites/histologies that require 99 in these fields, code the Number of Regional Lymph Nodes Positive field to 97 [Positive nodes but number of positive nodes not specified]. Code the Number of Regional Lymph nodes Examined field to 95 [No regional Lymph nodes removed, but aspiration of regional Lymph nodes was performed].
CS Tumor Size--Breast: Is the largest focus or the total area coded for tumor size in a patient presenting with "scattered foci of DCIS, largest focus measuring 0.6cm. DCIS spans a total area of 2.1cm."
This answer was provided in the context of CSv1 coding guidelines. The response may not be used after your registry database has been converted to CSv2.
Code the size of the largest focus in CS tumor size. Code the tumor size for this case as 006 (6mm or 0.6cm).