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Report Produced: 09/01/2026 16:20 PM

Report Question ID Question Discussion Answer Cancer Site Category Data Item Category Year
20220033

When coding the Covid testing results, does SEER have any guidance on whether or not at home tests fall within reportability? For instance, if a medical provider says pt tested positive on an at home test, do we record that?

When you have information about home COVID tests, record this information. For example, if the home test was positive record as follows: COVID-19 rapid viral antigen test POS 08/09/2022

 N/A N/A 2022
20220032

Reportability/Histology--Testis: Is micropapillary serous borderline tumor reportable? Pathology states Testis (C621) radical orchiectomy: Micropapillary serous borderline tumor. 

We consulted an expert genitourinary pathologist who advises that micropapillary serous borderline tumor of the testis is reportable. He states "it is the same neoplasm as in the ovary. It arises from tissue (tunica vaginalis) surrounding the testis so is a paratesticular neoplasm." 

 Please note: not all borderline tumors are reportable and this diagnosis is an exception because it is assigned /2 in ICD-O-3.2. It is reportable for cases diagnosed Jan 1, 2021 and later.

 Testis Histology 2022
20220031

Tumor Size/Neoadjuvant Treatment:  If a patient discontinues neoadjuvant therapy and then has surgery, how is the pathologic tumor size coded with the pathologic tumor size greater than the clinical tumor size? Currently, we are instructed to code 999 for the pathologic tumor size when neoadjuvant therapy is given; what happens when neoadjuvant chemotherapy is discontinued after 3 cycles (plan for 4 cycles)? 

Assign 999 for pathologic tumor size when patient has received neoadjuvant therapy, even when neo-adjuvant therapy is not completed. Describe the details in text fields.

 N/A Tumor size 2022
20220030

Histology--Lung:  Is it acceptable to code histology as 8042/3 for a 2020 lung primary when the pathology report states only "oat cell carcinoma?" See Discussion.

In the old 2007 Multiple Primaries/Histology rules, Lung Equivalent Terms and Definitions section, oat cell carcinoma (8042) was listed as one of the obsolete terms that was no longer recognized for small cell carcinoma.  That note is not in the current 2018 Solid Tumor Manual lung chapter, and ICDO-3.2 lists oat cell carcinoma as the preferred term for code 8042/3.  Would rule H4, Note 2 apply -- only one histology present, if not listed in Table 3 use ICD-O and all updates, to code oat cell carcinoma as 8042/3?

While oat cell carcinoma is an outdated term, if that is all the pathology report states, code histology as 8042/3. 

Yes, Rule H4 applies: the diagnosis was a single histology. H4 instructs you to refer to the solid tumor H table, and if the term is not found there, check ICD-O and ICD-O updates. All possible histologic types that could occur in the lung may not be included in the table.

 Lung Histology 2022
20220029

Histology/Behavior--GI Tract:  What is the difference between high grade dysplasia and severe dysplasia for tumors in the cervix and gastrointestinal (GI) tract? Are these terms synonymous with in situ/behavior code /2?  See Discussion.

In the WHO Classification of Female Genital Tumors, 5th edition, for the uterine cervix squamous intraepithelial lesions, there is related terminology for high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion HSIL (CIN3) 8077/2 and it is severe squamous dysplasia; squamous cell in situ. However, in the online WHO Classification of Digestive System Tumors, 5th edition, there is no related terminology for esophageal high-grade squamous dysplasia, 8077/2. Can you collect cases of severe dysplasia the same as cases of high grade dysplasia? 

According to a leading GI pathologist, severe dysplasia is equivalent to high grade dysplasia in the GI tract.

 N/A Behavior, Histology 2022
20220028

Reportability/EOD Primary Tumor--Ovary: Bilateral ovary shows gonadoblastoma with germ cell neoplasia in situ (9064/2). Pathology report clearly states in situ. Is this case reportable?

If this case is reportable, how would you code Extent of Disease (EOD) Primary Tumor and SEER Summary Stage (SS)? In situ code 000 for primary tumor and code 0 for SS 2018 is not given as an option.

Report germ cell neoplasia in situ (9064/2). Assign 999 for EOD Primary Tumor and assign 9 for SS2018.

This particular histology is in the Soft Tissue Abdomen and Thoracic schema where EOD PT 000 and SS2018 0 are not available. This histology will be moved to the Ovary schema after redefining certain schemas and thus making the more accurate choices for EOD and SS2018 available. The schema redefine is planned for 2024 implementation.

 Ovary EOD Primary Tumor 2022
20220026

Solid Tumor Rules/Histology--Parotid: How is histology coded for a myoepithelial carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid?

Patient has a 2021 left parotidectomy showing myoepithelial carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma.  Is this coded to myoepithelial carcinoma (8982/3) or carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma (8941/3)?  It is unclear how to arrive at the correct histology code using the current Solid Tumor Rules.

Code myoepithelial carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma as carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) (8941/3) using Head and Neck Solid Tumor Rule H1 as this is a single histology.  The WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumors, 5th ed., describes CXPA as a rare epithelial and/or myoepithelial malignance arising in association with a primary or recurrent pleomorphic adenoma.  The histologic type of the carcinoma component is usually recorded, in this case, myoepithelial carcinoma.

 N/A N/A 2022
20220024

Update to Current Manual/Residence at diagnosis:  Would an exchange student be a temporary resident of the SEER area or a non-resident?  See Discussion.

A 17 year old exchange student was brought into the hospital with appendicitis.  The patient had an appendectomy; there was no follow up treatment.  5/27/2006 pathology report of vermiform appendix:  Adenocarcinoid appendix <5 mm tumor limited to appendix.

The patient has no record in Lexis Nexus and no social security number.  The address is a post office box; additionally, the patient’s birthplace is Switzerland and is lost to follow up.

Code the residence where the student is living for exchange students temporarily living in the U.S.  Code the temporary address if known or the Post Office Box if unknown.  We will add this scenario to the next release of the SEER manual.

 N/A Residence at dx 2022
20220022

Tumor Size--Pathologic--Anus: In 2019, the pathology report of an anal canal squamous cell carcinoma stated the tumor size is 2.5 cm from proximal to distal (3.5 cm in circumference).  Is the pathologic tumor size tumor size 025 or 035? 

Based on the information provided, code the tumor size as 035.  We asked an expert pathologist to review this question and she said to use the larger measurement.  She also said "the pathologist usually cuts the anus and rectum open like a tube; the “circumference” would be measured flat."

 N/A Tumor size 2022
20220021

Solid Tumor Rules/Multiple Primaries--Brain and CNS:  How many primaries are accessioned, and what M Rule applies, for a 2012 diagnosis of left cerebral transitional meningioma (9537/0) that transforms to an atypical meningioma (9539/1) in 2022? See Discussion.

The patient underwent a resection of the transitional meningioma in 2012, but residual tumor was left behind. The patient was on surveillance until imaging showed growth of the residual tumor. The resection in 2022 proved atypical meningioma.

Rule M2, the first rule that applies, indicates this situation represents a single primary (a single tumor). However, Rule M4 states the transformation from a benign meningioma to a borderline meningioma would only be a single primary if the meningioma was a NOS.

This patient has microscopic confirmation of a meningioma showing different subtypes/variants (listed in Column 3, Table 6). Should this be accessioned as multiple primaries based on the transformation and distinctly different histologies?

Non-malignant CNS rule M4 applies, this is a single primary. This scenerio is covered in Example 2: A meningioma 9530/0 transforms into an atypical meningioma 9539/1. 

 Brain and CNS N/A 2022