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FINALIZED SEER SINQ’S
MARCH 2012
Question: 20120033
Status
Final
Question
Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: Is this a single primary (Essential thrombocyhemia)?
The patient was originally diagnosed in 2007 with essential thrombocythemia and treated with Hydrea. On 12/4/09 the
patient had a bone marrow biopsy showing primary myelofibrosis which the physician states is a transition from the
essential thrombocythemia. I could not find reference to this in the rules, and the database calls this 2 primaries? Please
advise.
Answer
Code primary myelofibrosis (9961/3) as a second primary. Essential thrombocythemia can transform to primary
myelofibrosis.
Reference: Heme DB - Search on essential. When 9962 essential thrombocythemia appears, display the information.
See the transformations box. Myelofibrosis is one of the diseases listed as a transformation. In the revised Heme DB the
term will be changed to primary myelofibrosis.
Last Updated
03/02/12
Question: 20120032
Status
Final
Question
MP/H Rules/Histology--Melanoma: How is the histology coded for an invasive melanoma stated to have a “superficial
spreading growth pattern”? See discussion.
Discussion
Some facilities in our reporting region submit pathology reports that document invasive melanoma cases with a subtype
stated to be a “growth pattern.” The MP/H rules state that we are not to use the term “pattern” to code the histology of
invasive tumors. However, applying this rule means the more specific histology will not be recorded for any of these
cases. Can the term “growth pattern” be considered a more specific histologic type for invasive melanomas when no
other information is available?
Answer
Code the histology as superficial spreading melanoma. As you said, the subtype of this invasive melanoma is
"superficial spreading." Code the subtype, per rule H9.
Last Updated03/12/12
Question: 20120031
Status
Final
Question
Grade--Bladder: How is grade coded for an invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder that is stated to be “histologic
grade (WHO/ISUP): high grade”? See discussion.
Discussion
For invasive urothelial tumors, can a WHO grade be used to code the differentiation?
Per the Bladder Coding Guidelines in Appendix C and SINQ 20091067, the grade for a non-invasive bladder tumor that
is “high grade” will be coded as 9 [unknown] with the explanation that “WHO grades are applied to urothelial tumors
ranging from dysplasia to non-invasive urothelial carcinoma.”
Answer
Assign code 4, Grade IV. For invasive bladder cases, use the conversion table in the Bladder Coding Guidelines in
Appendix C of the 2011 SEER manual to convert the term "High grade" to a SEER grade code. WHO grade is a grade
for urothelial tumors, and when those tumors are non-invasive, the WHO grade designates severity of dysplasia.
The answer to SINQ 20091067 has been clarified to read "WHO grades are applied to non-invasive urothelial tumors
ranging from dysplasia to non-invasive urothelial carcinoma."
Last Updated
03/12/12
Question: 20120030
Status
Final
Question
MP/H Rules/Histology--Melanoma: What is the correct histology code for a case in which the final diagnosis for an
excisional biopsy specimen is reported as “malignant melanoma, superficial spreading type” and in the CAP protocol
layout within the same report indicates that the “cell type: epithelioid”? See discussion.
Discussion
The MP/H rules do not address the concept of “cell type” for melanomas when the pathologist uses the CAP protocol to
report findings. How is the histology to be coded when the final diagnosis of melanoma is reported as being a specific
histologic type and there is a different specific cell type reported for the same case? Should the cell type be considered
another specific histologic type in this case? Pre-2007 SINQ entries indicate the cell type should be coded. Do the MP/H
rules still take the cell type into account?
Answer
Code the histology to malignant melanoma, superficial spreading type, based on the final diagnosis.
The final diagnosis takes precendence over the CAP protocol. The CAP protocol may be used when it provides
additional information, but that does not apply in this case.
Last Updated
03/12/12
Question: 20120027
Status
Final
Question
MP/H Rules/Histology--Colon: How is histology coded when a patient has two frank invasive adenocarcinomas in one
segment of the colon and multiple tubular adenomas and hyperplastic polyps throughout the entire colon without a
diagnosis of familial polyposis [FAP]? See discussion.
Discussion
Does rule H19 apply which indicates the histology is coded to 8221 [adenocarcinoma in multiple adenomatous polyps]
because there are multiple polyps (number not specified) throughout the colon? Does tumor have to arise in at least one
of the adenomas in order to apply rule H19?
Or, does rule H22 apply which indicated the histology is coded to 8140 [adenocarcinoma, NOS] because the
adenocarcinomas are both frank invasive adenocarcinomas and not adenocarcinoma arising in an adenoma?
Answer
Apply rule H22.
Rules H17 through H21 do not apply in this case because there is no malignancy arising in any of the adenomas or
polyps.
Last Updated
03/12/12
Question: 20120025
Status
Final
Question
MP/H Rules/Histology--Brain & CNS: Do I put this in as a new primary?
Diagnosis from a brain biopsy: metastatic malignant melanoma, 2003, and meningeal melanomatosis. Meningeal melanomatosis has a separate ICD code, but is also a very rare form of melanoma.
Answer
There is only one primary, the original melanoma. The brain and the meninges are both metastatic sites.
This case was sent to the melanoma physician specialists. The physician stated that, in this case, the meningeal
involvement is secondary to the brain involvement (metastatic spread). Whenever brain metastases are diagnosed, the
meningeal spread is metastatic.
Last Updated
03/02/12
Question: 20120020
Status
Final
Question
MP/H Rules/Multiple primaries--Breast: How many primaries are to be accessioned when a lumpectomy shows a single
6 mm “infiltrating mammary adenocarcinoma, histologic type: ductal (tubular)” tumor, and “peritumoral microscopic foci
of solid type ductal carcinoma in situ?” See discussion.
Discussion
Per SINQ 20091117, tubular (ductal) carcinoma would be coded to 8211/3 [tubular], but in that case the tubular/ductal
carcinoma is composed of a single tumor. In this case, the foci of DCIS were specifically stated to be peritumoral, and
not a part of the infiltrating tubular carcinoma.
Are these microscopic foci of DCIS considered a separate primary per rule M12 and SINQ 20110092 [two primaries are
accessioned when one tumor is invasive and another is in situ, and histology codes differ at 1st, 2nd or 3rd numbers]?
Does the size of the DCIS matter when there are two distinct histologies? Abstracting a second primary for these
microscopic foci seems like over-reporting.
Answer
It depends on what this pathologist means by "ductal (tubular).” According to the WHO classification, tubular is not a
duct subtype. Check with the pathologist if possible.
If the pathologist means tubular carcinoma, rule M12 applies and this case is two primaries. If the pathologist means duct, this is a single primary.
Last Updated
03/12/12
Question: 20120019
Status
Final
Question
Surgery of Primary Site/Scope Regional LN Surgery--Breast: How are these fields to be coded for breast cases
diagnosed 2011 and later when the patient has a simple mastectomy with removal of seven sentinel lymph nodes? See
discussion.
Discussion
Per SINQ 20091076, the correct codes would be 41 [simple mastectomy] and 2 [sentinel lymph node biopsy only] when
the patient has any number of sentinel nodes removed, as long as they are designated as sentinel nodes. Under the
mastectomy codes in the 2011 SEER Manual, Appendix C, Breast Surgery Codes, the SEER Note states that code 41
[simple mastectomy] includes removal of one to three axillary lymph nodes. A simple mastectomy with four or more
axillary lymph nodes would be coded as 51. Does this count include both sentinel and axillary lymph nodes? Or strictly
axillary lymph nodes, separate from the sentinel lymph node(s) biopsied?
Answer
First, make sure that the seven lymph nodes removed were actually sentinel nodes and not a combination of sentinel
nodes and other regional nodes. Code sentinel nodes only when designated as sentinel nodes or when the surgical
procedure includes the injection of dye to identify sentinel nodes.
If they are all sentinel nodes, follow the instructions in SINQ 20091076 and assign codes 41 [simple mastectomy] and 2 The SEER Note does not pertain to nodes designated as sentinel nodes.
Last Updated
03/12/12
Question: 20120017
Status
Final
Question
Reportability: Is a low-grade neuroendocrine neoplasm with gastrin expression found in a periportal lymph node
reportable if the clinical impression is compatible with a gastrinoma? See discussion.
Discussion
SINQ 20110095 states that “low-grade neuroendocrine neoplasm/carcinoid tumor with expression of gastrin” is
reportable, but in this case “carcinoid tumor” is not mentioned. Is this still reportable without the inclusion of “carcinoid
tumor” in the diagnosis? Also, does the fact that the gastrinoma was found in a lymph node affect reportability?
Answer
Report this as a gastrinoma. Gastrinomas are usually malignant. This one is apparently present in a metastatic site
(periportal lymph node) which confirms malignancy.
Last Updated
03/09/12
Question: 20110155
Status
Final
Question
Multiple primaries--Heme & Lymphoid Neoplasms: How many hematopoietic primaries should we abstract, based on
this Hematology/Oncology consult report, which is the only information we have? See discussion.
Discussion
Patient is 83 year old male diagnosed with thrombocytosis and probably polycythemia about 18 years ago. He has been
on hydroxyurea since then. It looks like there is progression of his polycythemia probably to myelofibrosis. Possibility of
an MDS will have to be considered. Problem list: Polycythemia probably progression to myelofibrosis or MDS. Then,
Bone marrow biopsy 2 weeks later shows some progression of dysmegakaryocytopoiesis. He does have evidence of
MDS, as well along with essential thrombocytosis and JAK2 mutation positive polycythemia vera. Six weeks later, on
follow up visit, still managing patient with hydroxyurea. Six months later, they are still calling this polycythemia with
thrombocytosis.
Answer
There are two primaries: essential thrombocytosis (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV). Do not abstract myelofibrosis or
MDS because there was no definitive diagnosis of either.
The consult report describes a definitive diagnosis of ET and PV. The JAK2 mutation further confirms the PV.
Last Updated 03/09/12
Question: 20110137
Status
Final
Question
MP/H Rules/Histology--Skin: What is the histology code for a malignant baso-melanocytic tumor skin right shoulder?
Discussion
Answer
This is a malignant skin tumor with both melanoma and basal cell carcinoma histologies. There is no ICD-O-3 code for
this entity.
Since melanoma is reportable, and basal cell is not reportable to SEER, code this 8720/3 and document in a text field.
Last Updated
03/09/12
Question: 20091067
Status
Final
Question
Grade--Bladder: Are the terms low grade, high grade, Grade II, Grade III, etc. used to code Grade for papillary urothelial
cancers of the bladder?
Discussion
The reference Anderson's Pathology indicates that these terms (low grade, high grade, Grade II, Grade III, etc) describe
WHO levels of hyperplasia. For example. "Noninvasive papillary transitional cell carcinoma, Grade II. SEER states that
we not use the WHO Grade to code the sixth digit for ICD-0-3 coding. The term "WHO Grade" is generally not stated as
such in the record.
Answer
For NON-invasive bladder tumors, assign code 9 [unknown] to the Grade field. WHO grades are applied to non-invasive
urothelial tumors ranging from dysplasia to non-invasive urothelial carcinoma. For invasive urothelial carcinoma, if terms
such as low grade, high grade, Grade II, Grade III are used, assign the appropriate code in the grade field. See the
2007 SEER Manual instructions on page C-844 for converting a three-grade value to a SEER grade code.
Last Updated
03/12/12

Source: http://www.ccrcal.org/DSQC-SINQ/March_2012.pdf