Report | Question ID | Question | Discussion | Answer | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20041032 | Primary Site--Head & Neck: How is this field coded for a tongue primary described as "located on the lateral" or "left oral" tongue? See Discussion. | Case 1. Patient with squamous cell carcinoma, left oral tongue. Case 2. Squamous cell carcinoma, left lateral tongue. Case 3. Patient status post biopsy of lesion on tongue. Exam: healing left lateral tongue incision with sutures in place in underside of tongue. |
Code Primary Site for cases 1 and 2 above to C023 [Anterior 2/3 of tongue, NOS]. Code lateral tongue without mention of dorsal or ventral surface to C023 [Anterior 2/3 of tongue, NOS].
Code Primary Site for case 3 to C022 [Ventral surface of tongue]. The underside of the tongue is specified as the site of the biopsy in case 3. |
2004 |
|
20031021 | Primary Site--Head & Neck: What is the anatomical distinction among tonsillar fossa, tonsillar pillar, and tonsil NOS? | Operative findings describe a right tonsil three times the size of the left tonsil. Tonsil is dissected from the tonsillar fossa. There appeared to be no involvement of tumor below the tonsillar capsule. | The tonsil lies in an indentation called the tonsillar fossa. The tonsillar fossa is bordered on either side by the tonsillar pillars. The tonsillar pillars are part of the supporting structure of the throat opening.
Code C09.9 [Tonsil NOS] as the primary site for the case above. |
2003 |
|
20031030 | Primary Site--Head & Neck: What is the primary site for a tumor location described as being in the "gingiva between teeth #s 18 and 19? | Code the primary site as C03.1, lower gum. According to the system used by the American Dental Association, tooth #18 and tooth #19 are lower. Teeth #1-16 are upper. Teeth #17-32 are lower. |
2003 | |
|
20021183 | Primary Site--Head & Neck: What site code is used to represent the following head and neck primary where there is not a clear statement of primary site? See discussion. | 6/29/02: PE: 2-3 cm mass in the posterior pharynx that seems to arise from the right side of back of tongue. 6/29/02 CT soft tissue of neck: 3 cm right sided oropharyngeal mass, possibly arising from right tongue mass. There is near occlusion of airway at this level. 7/3/02 Excision of oropharyngeal tumor: Palpated mass could clearly be felt coming off the right lateral tongue in approximately the mid portion of the tongue near the tonsillar base. |
Code the Primary Site field to C02.9 [tongue, NOS], based on the information provided. | 2002 |
|
20061146 | Primary Site--Hematopoietic, NOS: Are there any guidelines for the use of topography code C420 [blood] rather than C421 [bone marrow], or C424 [Hematopoietic system, NOS] for hematopoietic diseases other than Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia? | For cases diagnosed prior to 1/1/2010:There are no specific guidelines concerning code C420 versus C421 or C424, other than the suggested topography codes in ICD-O-3 (see Rule H). The Hematopoietic task force is in the early phases of developing guidelines for these diseases. This issue will be presented to the task force for their consideration. For cases diagnosed 2010 forward, refer to the Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Neoplasm Case Reportability and Coding Manual and the Hematopoietic Database (Hematopoietic DB) provided by SEER on its website to research your question. If those resources do not adequately address your issue, submit a new question to SINQ. |
2006 | |
|
20130161 | Primary Site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is the primary site coded to C779 or C421 for a bone marrow that is positive for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the peripheral blood demonstrates leukemic involvement and the PET scan shows involvement of abdominal lymph nodes, spleen and throughout the bones? See Discussion. | 1/11/13 Bone marrow bx: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Flow cytometry of peripheral blood shows leukemia involvement.
PET scan shows involvement of abdominal lymph nodes, spleen and throughout the bones. The patient has an elevated WBC, anemia and thrombocytopenia.
The answer to SINQ 20120047 (which is no longer visible in the system) said to code B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma to bone marrow for primary site if there is bone marrow involvement. The Heme/Lymph Manual Rule PH7 says to code bone marrow as the primary site if bone marrow is the only site involved.
Following the manual, the primary site would be C779. However, according to the answer to SINQ 20120047, the primary site would be C421. Which is correct? |
For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Per the Heme DB, the histology B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is synonymous with B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, NOS. Per Rule PH8, for a neoplasm that can manifest as either leukemia lymphoma or leukemia lymphoma, one is to code the primary site to the site of origin when lymph node(s) or lymph node region(s), tissue(s) or organs are involved. The Note 4 instruction states it is necessary to go to Module 7 (Rules PH18-PH27) to code the more specific primary site. In this case, use Rule PH22 to code primary site to C779 [lymph nodes, NOS] for the case you describe.
In this case, there is involvement of abdominal lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and bone. There is no indication of the primary site. Per the Heme DB, the most frequent sites of involvement for the lymphoma are bone and lymph nodes. This is a Stage IV lymphoma.
The now inactivated SINQ 20120047, stated that based on the sites of involvement, this histology could be coded as either leukemia or lymphoma. If the only involvement is the bone marrow, the site is coded to C421 [bone marrow]. The involvement of peripheral blood does not change the primary site because such involvement is part of the leukemic process.
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 |
|
20130200 | Primary Site--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: What is the primary site for a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma involving the testicles, stomach, rectum and bone marrow, when no lymph nodes are involved? | For cases diagnosed 2010 and forward, access the Hematopoietic Database at http://seer.cancer.gov/seertools/hemelymph.
Per PH27, code the primary site to C809 [unknown]. Rule PH27 states one is to code the primary site to unknown [C809] when there is no evidence of lymphoma in lymph nodes AND the physician documents in the medical record that he/she suspects that the lymphoma originates in an organ(s) OR there is multiple organ involvement without any nodal involvement.
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 | |
|
20000487 | Primary Site--Kaposi Sarcoma: Would the following Kaposi primaries be examples of cases not coded to skin for primary site? See discussion. | 1. KS developed initially as a lesion in the oral cavity and followed by the appearance of skin lesions.
2. KS found in a resected parotid gland with metastasis to the parotid gland lymph node. No skin lesions identified.
3. KS discovered in a biopsied 3 cm axillary lymph node. Clinically, the patient had hepatosplenomegaly, ascites, and extensive mesenteric lymph nodes. (No mention of skin.) |
Code the Primary Site field as follows:
1. C44.9 [Skin, NOS] as the default value when lesions develop simultaneously in skin and non-skin areas. 2. C07.9 [Parotid gland] 3. C44.9 [Skin, NOS] as the default value when there is no mention of lesions in the skin or other primary site.
Edward Klatt states in Practical AIDS Pathology, "...Visceral Kaposi (involving one or more internal organ sites) is also present in three-fourths of cases, but may not be diagnosed prior to autopsy. Visceral involvement frequently includes the lung, lymph nodes and gastro-intestinal tract." |
2000 |
|
20041015 | Primary Site--Lymphoma: How should this field be coded when a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is found in the femur and in the soft tissue of the anterior chest wall but all CT scans are negative for lymphadenopathy? | For cases diagnosed prior to 1/1/2010:Code the Primary Site field to C809 [Unknown primary site]. The primary site of diffuse large B cell lymphoma can be either nodal or extranodal. The case described above is likely extranodal because there is no evidence of lymph node involvement. Because the extranodal site of origin is unknown, code the Primary Site to C809. For cases diagnosed 2010 forward, refer to the Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Neoplasm Case Reportability and Coding Manual and the Hematopoietic Database (Hematopoietic DB) provided by SEER on its website to research your question. If those resources do not adequately address your issue, submit a new question to SINQ. |
2004 | |
|
20000848 | Primary Site--Lymphoma: How should you code the primary site for a lymphoma that presents in a "mediastinal mass"? | Code the Primary Site field to C77.1 [mediastinal lymph nodes]. | 2000 |