Report | Question ID | Question | Discussion | Answer | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20120029 | Primary site--Lung: What is the code for primary site if a small cell carcinoma presents as mediastinal masses? | Code the primary site to main bronchus [C340].
Primary small cell carcinoma in the thymus/mediastinum is rare. A bronchial lesion with extension into the mediastinum is much more likely. In a case like this, it is difficult to be sure exactly where the tumor arose, however, it is recommended the default site be the main bronchus when there is no information to the contrary.
|
2012 | |
|
20120095 | MP/H Rules/Multiple primaries--Breast: How many primaries are accessioned if a patient is diagnosed with inflammatory carcinoma of the left breast, (ductal with apocrine features type on biopsy), and an incidental lobular carcinoma in the right breast? See Discussion. | A 1.2 cm lobular carcinoma was incidentally discovered during the work-up of the patient's left breast that was inflammatory carcinoma. The lobular carcinoma on the right was localized without any skin involvement. Rule M6 indicates inflammatory breast carcinoma in either breast is a single primary. Does rule M6 apply when the patient has inflammatory carcinoma in one breast and a separate lobular carcinoma in the other? | For cases diagnosed 2007 or later, accession two primaries, ductal with apocrine features in the left breast and lobular carcinoma in the right breast.
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 Breast MP rules because site specific rules exist for this primary.
Start at the MULTIPLE TUMORS module, rule M4. The rules are intended to be reviewed in consecutive order within a module. The patient has tumors in both the right and left breasts.
Rule M6 does not apply because inflammatory carcinoma involves only the left breast and the patient has a different histology in the right breast and there is no mention of inflammatory carcinoma in that breast. In this situation continue to the next applicable rule. |
2012 |
|
20120013 | Reportability--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Should a 2011 diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis be accessioned as a reportable case if the patient had a disease free interval between the 2011 diagnosis and when the patient was initially diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis prior to 2010? See Discussion. |
The patient was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis as a child when the disease was not reportable [9751/1]. The patient was disease free until a recurrence in 2011. Langerhans cell histiocytosis is reportable if diagnosed 1/1/2010 and later [9751/3]. The Heme Manual states this is a single primary, but the behavior has changed from borderline to malignant since the initial diagnosis. |
For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph. Do not accession the 2011 diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. In the Abstractor Notes section of the Heme DB is indicates this is reportable for cases diagnosed 2010 and later. However, this patient was initially diagnosed prior to 2010 when it was not a reportable disease process. The histology code for Langerhans cell histiocytosis has not changed over time. The histology code for cases of Langerhans cell histiocytosis diagnosed prior to 2010 was also 9751 per the ICD-O-3. The only change since 2010 was in the behavior code for this disease. It changed from borderline [/1] to malignant [/3]. The current disease represents a recurrence of the previous Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Per the Multiple Primary rules, Rule M2, a single histology is a single primary. The original diagnosis was made before the disease was reportable; do not report the disease recurrence or progression as a new primary. 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 |
|
20120012 | Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is histology coded if the pathology report shows diffuse large B-cell lymphoma arising in a small cell lymphoma - Richter's transformation, also compatible with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)? | For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Code the histology to 9680/3 [diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)].
For CLL (and CLL/SLL), Richter's transformation represents when CLL changes into DLBCL. In this case, there was a biopsy that demonstrated a diagnosis of the chronic disease (CLL/SLL) transforming (Richter's transformation) into an acute disease DLBCL.
Per Rule M8, one is instructed to abstract the acute neoplasm as a single primary when both a chronic (CLL/SLL) and an acute neoplasm (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)) are diagnosed simultaneously there is documentation of only one positive bone marrow biopsy, lymph node biopsy or tissue biopsy.
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 | |
|
20120091 | Reportability/Behavior--Kidney: Is epithelioid angiomyolipoma (AML) of the kidney a reportable malignancy? See Discussion. | The addendum final diagnosis on a pathology report for a kidney core needle biopsy included the results of additional stains performed on the tissue. It indicated the morphology was most consistent with epithelioid angiomyolipoma. Further comments in the body of the report indicate these tumors are now considered malignant neoplasms with the capacity to be locally aggressive and they can potentially metastasize. There is no mention of a metastasis in this particular case. | Epithelioid angiomyolipoma (AML) [8860/0] of the kidney is not reportable unless stated to be malignant.
If the pathologist confirms this is a malignancy, apply ICD-O-3 Rule F (Matrix principle) and assign the behavior code /3. If confirmation is received, accession the case using the morphology code 8860/3 [malignant angiomyolipoma]. |
2012 |
|
20120014 | Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is histology coded if the pathology report final diagnosis is "plasma cell dyscrasia, consistent with multiple myeloma" when no further work-up is performed because the patient either refuses additional testing or dies? | For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Code the histology to 9732/3 [multiple myeloma].
Ambiguous terminology is used to accession cases (determine reportability) because it has been used for over 30 years to do so. Any deviation from using ambiguous terminology to determine case reportability would cause the reporting of incidence counts to vary. In this case, there was a reportable, ambiguous terminology diagnosis of multiple myeloma on the pathology report.
The instruction "Do not code histology based on ambiguous terminology" is intended to be used when there is a reportable and reportable stated in the diagnosis. Ambiguous terminology cannot be used to report the more specific diagnosis in cases of Heme & Lymphoid neoplasms. For example, if the pathology report final diagnosis was "Myeloproliferative neoplasm, probably Polycythemia Vera" the histology would be coded as myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable [9975/3]. The ambiguous terminology indicates that the genetic testing, immunophenotyping, etc., probably are not complete or are not diagnostic of the more specific disease. Wait to code the histology until there is a definite diagnosis given.
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 | |
|
20120068 | Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: What is the correct histology code for a diagnosis of mature B cell leukemia/lymphoma diagnosed only on a peripheral blood smear? | For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Code the histology to 9591/3 [B-cell lymphoma, NOS].
After searching the Heme DB for the term , no B-cell leukemia/lymphoma NOS code is found. However, the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma is found. This case scenario does not specify that this is a lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma; therefore, the histology code 9811/3 [B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, NOS] cannot be applied.
A subsequent search of the Heme DB for the term returns "Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, NOS" [9591/3]. Under the Alternative Names section of the Heme DB, B-cell lymphoma, NOS, is a synonym for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, NOS. Therefore, the B-cell lymphoma NOS code [9591/3] is the most appropriate histology code to use for this case.
This will be added to the next revision of the Heme DB and Manual.
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 | |
|
20120075 | Primary site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is the primary site coded for chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma when a lymph node biopsy was positive for CLL/SLL but no bone marrow biopsy was performed? See Discussion. | A right neck lymph node biopsy and flow cytometry proved CLL/SLL. The PET scan showed multiple involved lymph nodes in the right cervical, mediastinal and para-aortic areas. No bone marrow biopsy was done. Per the Hematopoietic DB, Module 3, the histology should be coded 9823/3 [CLL/SLL], but how is primary site coded? The manual states to code the primary site to the involved lymph node region when there is no bone marrow involvement, but it does not specifically address how to code the primary site when no bone marrow biopsy or peripheral blood smear was done. | For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Code the primary site to C77.8 [multiple lymph node regions, NOS].
Per Rule PH6, code the primary site to the involved lymph node region(s) when there is no bone marrow involvement or when it is unknown whether the bone marrow is involved. To determine the more specific lymph node subsite to code, use Rule PH21. It indicates one is to code the primary site to C778 [multiple lymph node regions, NOS] when multiple lymph node regions, as defined by the ICD-O-3 (see Table C1: Lymph Node/Lymph Node Chain Reference Table in Appendix C), are involved and it is not possible to identify the lymph node region where the lymphoma originated.
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 |
|
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. |
2012 | |
|
20120008 | MP/H Rules/Recurrence--Ovary: How many primaries are accessioned if a patient was diagnosed with ovarian serous carcinoma four years ago and currently has sacral and pelvic masses positive for serous carcinoma on biopsy? Should this be disease progression or a new primary? See Discussion. |
Should this be a new primary per the MP/H Rules (Other Sites, Rule M10) because the diagnoses were made more than one year apart? Or is the new disease metastasis? The pathologist did not compare the subsequent mass biopsies with the original pathology. Is a pathologist's comparison of slides the only criteria for determining recurrent disease? This case seems to fit the definition of metastatic disease rather than a recurrence, and therefore would not be a new primary. |
Accession a single primary, the original ovarian serous carcinoma. The MP/H Rules do not apply to metastases. Metastases: When cancer cells appear in other nodes or organs that are not the primary site they are metastatic cells. Discontinuous (separate from the primary tumor) masses or cells in regional lymph nodes, distant lymph nodes, or distant sites are always metastases. In this case, the sacral and pelvic masses are distant metastases. The pathologist does not have to compare cells to the original tumor slides; the discontinuous tumor mass/cells in any site other than the primary site are metastases. Recurrence: For a disease to recur there are several criteria that must be met. First and most important, the patient must have had a disease-free interval (a tumor cannot recur if it has always been present). The other criteria are: the "new tumor" has to occur in the original primary site, it must be the same histology as the original tumor, AND must meet the timing requirements in the MPH rules for that organ/site. |
2012 |