NAACCR Item #820: Regional Nodes Positive

Item # Length Source of Standard Year Implemented Version Implemented Year Retired Version Retired
820 2 SEER/CoC None None
NAACCR XML: Tumor.regionalNodesPositive
Alternate Names
  • Pathologic Review of Regional Lymph Nodes (SEER)
  • Regional Lymph Nodes Positive
  • Number of Positive Regional Lymph Nodes (SEER)
Description
Records the exact number of regional nodes examined by the pathologist and found to contain metastases. Beginning with tumors diagnosed on or after January 1, 2004, this item is a component of the Collaborative Stage system. For tumors diagnosed from 1988 through 2003, this item was part of the 10-digit EOD [779], detailed site-specific codes for anatomic EOD.
Rationale
This data item is necessary for pathologic staging, and it serves as a quality measure for pathology reports and the extent of the surgical evaluation and treatment of the patient.
Codes
00 All nodes examined are negative
01-89 1-89 nodes are positive (code exact number of nodes positive)
90 90 or more nodes are positive
95 Positive aspiration of lymph node(s) was performed
97 Positive nodes are documented, but the number is unspecified
98 No nodes were examined
99 It is unknown whether nodes are positive; not applicable; not stated in patient record
Code Notes
*Note:* See Chapter V, Unresolved Issues, for a discussion of coding differences between CoC and SEER.