Circumferential Resection Margin (CRM)
Notes
**Note 1:** Physician statement of Circumferential or Radial Resection Margin can be used to code this data item when no other information is available. **Note 2:** Tumor involvement of the circumferential resection margin or radial resection margin appears to be a strong prognostic factor for local or systemic recurrences and survival after surgery. **Note 3:** The CRM may also be referred to as the circumferential radial margin or mesenteric margin. **Note 4:** According to the AJCC 8th edition, “the CRM is the distance in millimeters between the deepest point of tumor invasion in the primary cancer and the margin of resection in the retroperitoneum or mesentery.” **Note 5:** Record in Millimeters (mm) to the nearest tenth the distance between the leading edge of the tumor and the nearest edge of surgically dissected margin as recorded in the pathology report. * ***Examples*** If the CRM is 2 mm, code 2.0 If the CRM is 2.78 mm, code 2.8 **Note 6:** If the margin is involved (positive), code 0.0. If the margin is described as less than 1 mm with no more specific measurement, code 0.0; margins of 0-1 mm are recorded by the pathologist as involved. **Note 7:** If the value is recorded in Centimeters, multiply by 10 to get the value in Millimeters (mm). * ***Example:*** CRM recorded as 0.2 cm. Multiply 0.2 x 10 and record 2.0 **Note 8:** Use code XX.9 (CRM not mentioned) if the pathology report describes only distal and proximal margins, or margins, NOS. * Only specific statements about the CRM are collected in this data item. **Note 9:** An exact measurement takes precedence over codes beginning with XX.Default
XX.8NAACCR Item
NAACCR #3823Metadata
SSDI| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 0.0 | Circumferential resection margin (CRM) positive Margin IS involved with tumor Described as "less than 1 millimeter (mm)" |
| 0.1-99.9 | Distance of tumor from margin: 0.1- 99.9 millimeters (mm) (Exact size to nearest tenth of millimeter) |
| XX.0 | 100 mm or greater |
| XX.1 | Margins clear, distance from tumor not stated Circumferential or radial resection margin negative, NOS No residual tumor identified on specimen |
| XX.2 | Margins cannot be assessed |
| XX.3 | Described as “at least” 1 mm |
| XX.4 | Described as “at least” 2 mm |
| XX.5 | Described as “at least” 3 mm |
| XX.6 | Described as "greater than” 3 mm |
| XX.7 | No resection of primary site Surgical procedure did not remove enough tissue to measure the circumferential or radial resection margin (Examples include: polypectomy only, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), excisional biopsy only, transanal disk excision) |
| XX.8 | Not applicable: Information not collected for this case (If this information is required by your standard setter, use of code XX.8 may result in an edit error.) |
| XX.9 | Not documented in medical record Circumferential or radial resection margin not assessed or unknown if assessed |