Report | Question ID | Question | Discussion | Answer | Year |
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20240063 | Solid Tumor Rules/Multiple Primaries--Bladder: How many primaries and what M Rule applies for a diagnosis of noninvasive micropapillary urothelial carcinoma (8131/2) in 2019, followed by a diagnosis of noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma (8130/2) in 2024? |
Abstract two primaries using Urinary Solid Tumor Rules, Rule M12. The histologies include non-invasive papillary urothelial carcinoma (8130/2) and non-invasive micropapillary urothelial carcinoma (8131/3). The two histology codes are listed as subtypes of Papillary urothelial (transitional cell) carcinoma in column 3 of Table 2. WHO Classification of Urinary and Male Genital Tumors, 5th edition classifies micropapillary urothelial carcinoma as an aggressive subtype of urothelial carcinoma with carcinoma in situ present in more than half of all micropapillary carcinomas. Rule 7 Note 3 of the Urinary Solid Tumor Rules states that there are no /2 subtypes for urothelial carcinoma with the exception of papillary urothelial carcinoma and applies to multiple occurrences of /2 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Rule 8 applies to 8131/3 and 8120/3. |
2024 | |
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20240062 | Reportability--Brain and CNS: Is an MRI finding of “statistically meningioma” reportable? See Discussion. |
Example: Patient has a 2023 brain MRI described as having a “new dural based nodule, statistically meningioma, along the left distal tentorial incisura.” All subsequent chart information is related to patient’s unrelated diagnosis of multiple sclerosis only. Is the terminology “statistically” reportable ambiguous terminology in this context? |
If you cannot clarify this with the involved physicians, do not report this case of meningioma based on information provided. There is no indication that the patient was treated or further evaluated for meningioma. |
2024 |
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20240061 | Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms/Histology--Myelodysplastic Neoplasm: What is the histology code for myelodysplastic neoplasm with low blasts and SF3B1 mutation with primary site bone marrow (C421) diagnosed in 2023? |
Assign histology as 9982/3 (myelodysplastic neoplasm with low blasts and SF3B1 mutation). This is a new term for 9982/3. WHO Classification of Hematolymphoid Tumors, 5th edition, defines myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS) with low blasts and SF3B1 mutation (MDS-SF3B1) as a myeloid neoplasm with cytopenia and dysplasia characterized by SF3B1 mutation and often ring sideroblasts. |
2024 | |
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20240060 | Solid Tumor Rules/Histology--Lung: What is the histology code for a lung case with a diagnosis only stated as "high-grade neuroendocrine tumor" in 2022? As the disease was advanced, limited workup was done, and no more specific diagnosis was provided. See Discussion. |
SINQ #20170064 states this should be coded as neuroendocrine carcinoma for rectum, but that may not apply for a 2018+ lung case. The Solid Tumor Manual lists "neuroendocrine tumor, grade 3" as 8249 in the Lung module, Table 3, but our pathology report does not specify grade 3 and we are unsure if that would be equivalent to "high grade" in this case. We were unable to find this exact term in the Solid Tumor Manual or the ICD-O-3.2 update documents. |
Assign 8249/3 for high-grade neuroendocrine tumor of the lung. WHO Classification of Thoracic Tumors, 5th edition, defines two subtypes of neuroendocrine tumor of the lung, typical carcinoids (8240/3), and atypical carcinoids. WHO assigns typical carcinoid/neuroendocrine tumor grade 1 as 8240/3 and atypical carcinoid/neuroendocrine tumor grade 2 as 8249/3. They are regarded as low-grade and intermediate-grade, respectively. The preferred term for 8249/3 in ICD-O-3.2 is neuroendocrine tumor grade 2, with neuroendocrine tumor grade 3 as a related term. The Lung Solid Tumor Rules assign atypical carcinoid as 8249/3. |
2024 |
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20240059 | Update to the Current Manual/SEER*RSA--SEER Site-specific Factor 1: The 2024 SEER Manual and SEER*RSA say that Codes 10-51 are hierarchical; use the highest code that applies (10 is highest, 51 is lowest). Should the guidance say that 51 is highest, 10 is lowest since code 10 is a HPV negative p16 test? |
Assign the highest code with 51 as the highest and 10 the lowest when there is more than one test performed with differing results. The SEER Manual will be updated in the 2025 release. SEER*RSA will be updated in a future release, version 3.3 in 2026, as version 3.2 has been updated for 2025. |
2024 | |
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20240058 | Summary Stage 2018--Ovary: What is the summary stage for an ovarian primary in 2024, in which the ovary capsule was ruptured with surgical spill? See Discussion. |
In this case, the surgeon ruptured the ovarian tumor to drain it prior to removal causing the surgical spill. Regional lymph nodes are negative and there is no metastasis. The capsule was then noted as ruptured on pathology. Does it matter if the surgeon was the one who ruptured the capsule? Would the stage change if the surgeon intentionally ruptured the capsule to drain the tumor intraoperatively causing some surgical spill? The scenarios of an intentional and not intentional rupture are not specified in SEER Summary Stage 2018. |
Code SEER Summary Stage 2018 to Localized, Code 1. Per consult with AJCC and noted in the Primary Peritoneal Chapter in AJCC 8th edition, an intraoperative rupture is coded as a surgical spill. A capsule rupture is when the capsule ruptures prior to the surgery (Summary Stage Regional, Code 2). |
2024 |
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20240057 | Solid Tumor Rules/Histology--Brain and CNS: What is the histology code for angiocentric glioma? See Discussion. |
We would like to confirm that the correct histology code is 9431/1 per ICD-O-3.2, as the Non-Malignant CNS Solid Tumor Manual lists the histology code as both 9431/1 (pages 301 and 303 of the combined manual), but also shows it as a synonym for 9421/1 – Diffuse astrocytoma, MYB- or MYBL1 altered (page 304). |
Assign code 9431/1 for angiocentric glioma. This has been corrected in the 2025 update. Angiocentric glioma was removed from the 9421/1 row and remains in its own row. |
2024 |
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20240056 | Reportability/Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How should this unusual 2023 pathology-only case be reported and coded for leukemia cutis? See Discussion. |
10/25/2023: Patient presents to dermatology office with a questionable drug eruption having 3 weeks of papular eruptions of Trunk (Left Chest). Punch biopsies were taken that came back as immature hemopoietic infiltrate with monocytic differentiation. Comment: Myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemia cutis are possibilities. Addendum Report: Additional stains were prepared. ERG is strongly positive. CD1a and S100 do not stain the atypical cells.The controls stain appropriately. CD123 perform with appropriate control is also negative. The pattern is that of so-called "leukemia cutis" which could be seen in the clinical setting of myelodysplasia, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) or precursor to acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML). Recommend work up. The only available information at present is a diagnosis of leukemia cutis, and that there was no prior history of a hematological malignancy in this patient. |
Report this case of leukemia cutis and code to bone marrow (C421) and leukemia NOS (9800/3) based on the information provided. Update the abstract if new information becomes available. Leukemia cutis is the rare infiltration of neoplastic leukocytes into the epidermis, dermis, or subcutis from an existing leukemia that results in clinically identifiable cutaneous lesions. Leukemia cutis may precede, follow, or occur concurrently with the diagnosis of systemic leukemia. It is an advanced phase of the leukemia having a poor prognosis that also strongly correlates with additional sites of extramedullary involvement. This can alter the appropriate treatment regimen for a patient. It is a type of "metastasis" or spread of the leukemia cells. The "conventional" definition for leukemia cutis is the infiltration of skin from a bone marrow primary. It is most often diagnosed via skin biopsy—punch, shave, etc., utilizing IHC/biomarker testing and is commonly associated with CMML and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As such, it a reportable condition especially when preceding a confirmed systemic leukemia diagnosis. In this situation, the diagnosis date would be the date of the positive leukemia cutis skin bx—punch, shave, etc. The case should be coded to C421; 9800/3 Leukemia NOS until the official systemic leukemia diagnosis is rendered. If possible, follow back should be conducted to determine the specific systemic leukemia histology (CMML; AML) and the treatment received. If the leukemia cutis follows or occurs concurrently with the diagnosis of a systemic leukemia, it is NOT a separate primary but merely an advanced stage of the systemic leukemia diagnosis. |
2024 |
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20240055 | Update to the Current Manual/Tumor Size Summary—Neoadjuvant Treatment: Would you clarify instructions in the 2024 SEER Program Coding and Staging Manual (SPCSM) for Tumor Size Summary when a patient receives neoadjuvant treatment? There seems to be a conflict with the STORE Manual. See Discussion. |
Starting for cases diagnosed in 2024, the SPCSM manual no longer requires the data items for clinical and pathologic tumor size. Instead, it appears to align with the CoC data item of Tumor Size Summary. The two manuals contradict each other when it comes to coding tumor size summary for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) treated cancers. STORE states: "If neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery, do not record the size from the pathologic specimen. Code the largest size of the tumor prior to neoadjuvant treatment; if unknown code size as 999." 2024 SPCSM states "If neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery, do not record the size from the pathologic specimen. Code the largest size of the tumor prior to neoadjuvant treatment; if unknown code size as 999." It continues to state 12. Assign code 000 when…. (a) no residual tumor is found…(i) Neoadjuvant therapy has been administered and the resection shows no residual tumor & 14. Assign code 999 when...(d) Neoadjuvant therapy has been administered and resection was performed. Do not use a post-neoadjuvant size to code pathologic tumor size; however, you may use the clinical tumor size if available It seems that we will lose the value of the tumor size summary if we code 000 when NAC is administered and there is no residual disease. Example: Patient has a 90 mm triple positive breast tumor and is treated with neoadjuvant TCHP (docetaxel/carboplatin/ trastuzumab/pertuzumab). After completing neoadjuvant therapy, the patient has a mastectomy with no residual disease noted on the final pathology report. Using the 2024 SPCSM instructions, code 000 for Tumor Size Summary instead of 090 for the clinical tumor size of 90 mm tumor noted before NAC was administered. This has the potential to affect data analysis, research, and clinical trial accrual. |
When there is neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery, do not record the size from the pathologic specimen. Code the largest size of the tumor prior to neoadjuvant treatment; if unknown code size as 999. We will remove Coding Instruction 12.a.i in the next version of the manual. |
2024 |
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20240054 | EOD 2018/Primary Tumor--Breast: We are having difficulty deciding when we can or cannot use physician-assigned TNM staging to code EOD data items if the medical record or hospital abstract documentation is unclear. As a central registry, we are unable to query physicians for clarification. Please advise what is a “discrepancy” in the EOD General Instructions to “Use the medical record documentation to assign EOD when there is a discrepancy between the T, N, M information and the documentation in the medical record.” See Discussion. |
We know that physician TNM staging is not always accurate, and we also know that doctors sometimes use information in assigning their TNM which may not be available to registrars. Is it a discrepancy when the documentation in the chart is unclear or not definitive, yet the physician assigns a TNM that seems to incorporate that documentation? Or is a discrepancy an obvious conflict between chart documentation and the doctor’s staging – such as a mis-assignment of TNM category that doesn’t at all match with clear and complete medical record documentation, or the physician’s use of criteria that should be excluded from the TNM assignment per AJCC guidelines? A real case example is a patient with breast carcinoma, imaging states 12 cm tumor with thickening of dermis, and thickening of morphologically suspicious internal mammary and level 1-2 axillary lymph nodes. Medical oncologist states locally advanced breast cancer with extensive changes involving skin thickening associated with the mass, at least stage IIIC based on imaging and exam findings, cT4 N3b. Only axillary nodes were sampled and found to be positive. Post-neoadjuvant therapy resection showed only focal DCIS. Per EOD guidelines, would the oncologist’s staging be a discrepancy with the chart documentation and therefore ignored, with EOD-Primary Tumor coded 200 for skin thickening, and EOD-Lymph Nodes 200 for involvement of axillary nodes only? Or would the doctor’s TNM be a clarification/confirmation of documentation terms that we otherwise would not code, with EOD-PT coded 400 for extensive skin involvement and EOD-LNs 600 for internal mammary + axillary nodes? |
Use all information available in the medical record. EOD is a combination of the most precise clinical and pathological documentation of the extent of disease as instructed in the EOD 2018 General Instructions, Extent of Disease section. EOD 2018 General Instructions, General Coding Instructions section advises to use the medical record documentation to assign EOD when there is a discrepancy between the T, N, M information and the documentation in the medical record. When there is doubt that the documentation in the medical record is complete, code the EOD corresponding to the physician staging. A discrepancy can exist within the medical record when the information in the chart is unclear, incomplete, or conflicting, for example, the TNM staging from pathology differs from the medical oncologist’s TNM staging. In the scenario provided, use the medical oncologist stage information that takes into account imaging and exam findings. Based on the stage cT4 N3b, assign EOD Primary Tumor: 400 Extensive skin involvement WITHOUT a stated diagnosis of inflammatory carcinoma WITH or WITHOUT dermal lymphatic filtration EOD Regional Nodes: 600 Internal mammary node(s), ipsilateral, clinically apparent (On imaging or clinical exam) WITH axillary (level I, II, or III) lymph node(s), ipsilateral including infraclavicular |
2024 |