CS Lymph Nodes Eval

Code Description Staging Basis
0 Does not meet criteria for AJCC pathologic staging:

No regional lymph nodes removed for examination. Evidence based on physical examination, imaging examination, or other non-invasive clinical evidence. No autopsy evidence used.		 c
1 Meets criteria for AJCC pathologic staging based on at least one of the following criteria:

No regional lymph nodes removed for examination. Evidence based on endoscopic examination, or other invasive techniques including surgical observation, without biopsy. No autopsy evidence used.
OR
Fine needle aspiration, incisional core needle biopsy, or excisional biopsy of regional lymph nodes or sentinel nodes as part of the diagnostic workup, WITHOUT biopsy or removal of the primary site adequate for pathologic T classification.		 c
2 Meets criteria for AJCC pathologic staging:

No regional lymph nodes removed for examination, but evidence derived from autopsy (tumor was suspected or diagnosed prior to autopsy).		 p
3 Meets criteria for AJCC pathologic staging based on at least one of the following criteria:

Any microscopic assessment of regional nodes (including fine needle aspiration, incisional core needle biopsy, excisional biopsy, sentinel node biopsy, or node resection) WITH biopsy or removal of the primary site adequate for pathologic T classification.
OR
Any microscopic assessment of a regional node in the highest N category, regardless of the T category information.		 p
5 Does not meet criteria for AJCC y-pathologic (yp) staging:

Regional lymph nodes removed for examination AFTER neoadjuvant therapy AND lymph node evaluation based on clinical evidence, unless the pathologic evidence at surgery (AFTER neoadjuvant therapy) is more extensive (see code 6).		 c
6 Meets criteria for AJCC y-pathologic (yp) staging:

Regional lymph nodes removed for examination AFTER neoadjuvant therapy AND lymph node evaluation based on pathologic evidence, because the pathologic evidence at surgery is more extensive than clinical evidence before treatment.		 yp
8 Meets criteria for AJCC autopsy (a) staging:

Evidence from autopsy; tumor was unsuspected or undiagnosed prior to autopsy.		 a
9 Unknown if lymph nodes removed for examination
Not assessed; cannot be assessed
Unknown if assessed
Not documented in patient record		 c