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Report Produced: 06/16/2025 05:32 AM

Report Question ID Question Discussion Answer Year
20130067 Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is histology coded for a pathology report final diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (50%) and follicular lymphoma, 3A (50%)?

For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.

Code the histology to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [9680/3] per Rule PH11.

Code the histology to 9680/3 [diffuse large B-cell lymphoma] when DLBCL and any other non-Hodgkin lymphoma (follicular lymphoma, grade 3 in this case) are present in the same anatomic location. DLBCL is coded because it is the more aggressive histology.

NOTE: This answer assumes these two histologies are present simultaneously in the same anatomic location. Per Rule M4, this is a single 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.

2013
20130208

Histology--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How is histology coded when a bone marrow shows slightly hypercellular marrow with acute myeloid leukemia, non-M3 type and the flow cytometry is also consistent with acute myeloid leukemia, non-M3 type?

For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.

Without further information as to the type of acute myeloid leukemia, code the histology to 9861/3 [acute myeloid leukemia, NOS]. If further information on the specific acute myeloid leukemia becomes available, update the histology code.

Document that the pathology report states the acute myeloid leukemia is a "non-M3 type" in a text field. This documentation will help explain the choice of 9861/3 for this case. M3 refers to one of the eight FAB subtypes described by a group of French, American, and British leukemia experts in the 1970's who divided acute myeloid leukemias into subtypes, M0 through M7. They classified the disease based on the type of cell from which the leukemia developed and how mature the cells were. This was based largely on how the leukemia cells looked under the microscope after routine staining.

In this case, all we know is that the histology does not pathologically represent the M3 (acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)) form of acute myeloid leukemia. We do not know which type of acute myeloid leukemia it does represent.

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
20130086 Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many primaries are accessioned when a patient is diagnosed in 2008 with chronic myeloid leukemia, chronic phase and is subsequently diagnosed with both accelerated phase (2010) and blast crisis of CML (2012)? See Discussion.

Patient diagnosed in 1/2008 with CML, Chronic phase and had a complete remission following treatment.

In 3/2010 the patient was diagnosed with CML, Accelerated phase and again had a complete remission following treatment.

In 02/2012 the patient was diagnosed with CML, Blast crisis.

How do chronic and acute neoplasms (Rules M8 - M13) relate to histologies that are stated to have Chronic, Accelerated and Blast phases per the Heme DB? These histologies don't change, does this mean Rules M8 - M13 do not apply because there isn't a change in histology? How many primaries should be accessioned in this case?

For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.

This case is accessioned as a single primary, chronic myeloid leukemia, NOS [9863/3] diagnosed 01/2008 per Rule M2. The patient was diagnosed with CML, NOS [9863/3] in 2008 and again in 2010 and 2012. Abstract a single primary when there is a single histology.

CML, Chronic phase; CML, Accelerated phase; and CML, Blast phase (Blast crisis) are listed under the Alternate Names section for CML, NOS in the Heme DB.

Not all histologies have transformations. If a transformation is not listed in the Heme DB, Rules M8 - M13 do not apply.

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
20130199

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.

 2013
20130202 Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many primaries are reported when a solitary plasmacytoma diagnosed in 2010 (T spine) is followed by another solitary plasmacytoma (L spine, different primary site) in 2013? See Discussion.

In the Heme Manual it indicates one is to abstract a second primary when a solitary plasmacytoma (chronic) is followed by a plasma cell myeloma (acute) greater than 21 days after the chronic diagnosis.

The Heme Manual does not indicate what to do when a solitary plasmacytoma diagnosed in 2010 (T spine) is followed by another solitary plasmacytoma (L spine, different primary site) in 2013. The physician specifically stated the patient does not have multiple myeloma. Is this case one or two primaries?

For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.

Per Rule M2, this is a single primary. According to Rule M2, the single histology is always the single 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.

2013
20130152 Primary site/Histology--Brain and CNS: How is the primary site and histology coded for a 2013 diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma arising in a dermoid cyst of the third ventricle? See Discussion. Patient has a dermoid cyst of the third ventricle of the brain diagnosed in 1998. In 2013 the cyst was removed and was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. An internet search revealed a journal article in the Journal or Neuro-Oncology that states, "Although rare, malignant transformation of intracranial epithelial cysts has a poor prognosis." The combination of site C715 [third ventricle, NOS] and histology 8070/3 [squamous cell carcinoma] fails SEER Edit IF 38_3: Primary site and Morphology Impossible. According to the literature, intracranial squamous cell carcinoma is very rare with most cases arising from a preexisting benign epidermoid cyst. The combination of C71_ and 8070/3 should be allowed. We will submit a request to have this edit revised. 2013
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
20130072

MP/H Rules/Multiple primaries--Lung: How many primaries are accessioned when the right lower lobe lung has two adenocarcinomas, both with lepidic pattern, if the tumor board staged these tumors as separate primaries? See Discussion.

Per pathology report

  • Lung, right lower lobe, wedge excision (A): Invasive moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with focal lepidic pattern (pT1a, pN0).
  • Right lower lobe, completion lobectomy (F): Separate focus of well differentiated adenocarcinoma with lepidic pattern (<4mm) (see comment).
  • COMMENT: The block F7 shows a microscopic focus of adenocarcinoma with lepidic growth pattern. This most likely represents a separate primary tumor since the stapled margins were all negative for involvement. This focus measures less than 0.4 cm.
  • Tumor focality: Most likely two separate primary tumor nodules. Histologic type: adenocarcinoma, mixed type (NOS and lepidic type).

The tumor board has staged this as two separate primaries and is treating it as such. They are not considering the second focus metastatic even though it is the same histology. Lepidic is not in the ICD-O-3. Is lepidic a new term for histology?

For cases diagnosed 2007 and later, accession a single primary, adenocarcinoma [8140/3] of the right lower lobe lung. The steps used to arrive at this decision are:

Step 1: Open the Multiple Primary and Histology Coding Rules Manual. Choose one of the three formats (i.e., flowchart, matrix or text). Go to the Lung MP rules because site specific rules have been developed for this primary.

Step 2: Start at the MULTIPLE TUMORS module, rule M3. The rules are intended to be reviewed in consecutive order within a module. Stop at rule M12. Accession a single primary when the patient has two tumors in the same lung with the same histology.

Keep in mind that physicians follow different "rules" to determine the number of primaries. Even though the physicians consider this case to represent two primaries, the MP/H rules instruct you to accession one primary.

We have received quite a few questions about the term lepidic. Below is the general definition of lepidic that will be added to the next MP/H revision.

"Lepidic" is a growth pattern meaning that tumor cells are growing along the alveolar septa. It is characteristic of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), but not diagnostic of it. The diagnosis of BAC also requires no stromal, vascular, or pleural invasion. Lepidic growth may be seen in other adenocarcinomas, including metastases to lung from other sites. It is not a type/subtype of adenocarcinoma. For lepidic lung neoplasms, code the histology indicated, for example BAC.

 2013
20130186

Grade: Can the FIGO grade be used to code the morphologic grade? See discussion.

FIGO Grade is coded in CS SSF 7 in the Corpus Uteri schema. The SEER Manual does not address using FIGO grade for coding grade in morphology.

Do not use FIGO grade to code the grade field. See the sentence below the table in Instruction #6 in the Grade Coding Instructions for cases diagnosed 2014 and later, http://seer.cancer.gov/tools/grade/

2013
20130002

Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many primaries are accessioned, and what is the year of diagnosis, when the patient was initially diagnosed with poorly differentiated, diffuse lymphocytic lymphoma, small cleaved cell [9591/3] in 1991, followed by multiple recurrences and transformations? See Discussion.

5/1991 Left groin biopsy: Poorly differentiated, diffuse lymphocytic lymphoma, small cleaved cell [9591/3].

Subsequently, the patient had multiple recurrences.

7/1/08 Left axillary biopsy: Disease transformed to malignant lymphoma, large B-cell and a small focus of follicular lymphoma.

Patient was followed until there was no evidence of disease.

4/22/10 Left axillary biopsy: Recurrence of follicular lymphoma, grade 1. No large cell component was found. The bone marrow biopsy was negative for lymphoma. The patient was on observation.

11/02/10 MD note indicates the disease progressed to follicular lymphoma, grade 3. No large cell component was identified. The patient clinically has no evidence of disease on maintenance Rituxan.

For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.

This case should be accessioned as a single primary, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (previously called poorly differentiated, diffuse lymphocytic lymphoma, small cleaved cell) [9591/3] diagnosed in 1991.

Determining the number of primaries is based on the rules in effect at the time of each diagnosis. The original lymphoma was diagnosed in 1991 and the first transformation to follicular lymphoma in 2008. The pre-2010 rules for coding histology and determining multiple primaries must be applied first because the rules changed for diagnoses occurring 2010 or later. Per the Single Versus Subsequent Primaries Table, poorly differentiated, diffuse lymphocytic lymphoma, small cleaved cell [9591/3] is the same primary as follicular lymphoma [9690].

The Heme DB and Manual are used to confirm that the 2010 recurrences of follicular lymphoma, grade 1 [9695/3], and follicular lymphoma, grade 3 [9698/3], are the same primary according to the Heme Calculator check required per Rule M15. Per the Heme DB page, the diagnoses follicular lymphoma, grade 3 [9698/3] and follicular lymphoma, grade 1 [9695/3] are comparable to follicular lymphoma [9690] as stated in the 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.

 2013