Number of Examined Para-Aortic Nodes
Description
Number of Examined Para-Aortic nodes is the number of nodes examined based on para-aortic nodal dissection.
Information on the number of positive and examined para-aortic and pelvic lymph nodes. These related data items should be coded from the same procedure.
* 3899: Number of Examined Para-Aortic Nodes
* 3900: Number of Examined Pelvic Nodes
* 3901: Number of Positive Para-Aortic Nodes
* 3902: Number of Positive Pelvic Nodes
Rationale
Number of Examined Para-Aortic Nodes is listed as a Registry Data Collection Variable in AJCC. This data item was previously collected as Corpus, CS SSF #6.
Additional Info
** Source documents:** pathology report, imaging reports, physical exam, other statements in medical record
Notes
**Note 1:** **Physician Statement**
* Physician statement of examined para-aortic nodes can be used to code this data item when no other information is available.
**Note 2:** **Para-aortic nodes**
* Aortic
* Lateral aortic/lateral lumbar
* Para-aortic, NOS
* Periaortic
**Note 3:** **Related data item**
* The number of para-aortic nodes positive is recorded in the related data item 3901: Number of Positive Para-aortic Nodes.
Coding Guidelines
**1)** Record the number of examined pelvic lymph nodes documented in the medical record.
* **a.)** Number of nodes examined must ALWAYS be **equal to or greater** than the number of nodes positive.
* **b.)** If a lymph node dissection is done and only “nodes” are documented without specifying pelvic or para-aortic, assume they are pelvic
* **i.** Para-aortic nodes are not routinely examined unless there is suspected involvement
**2)** **Code 00** when no lymph nodes are examined by FNA, core biopsy or removal of lymph node(s) (e.g., sentinel lymph node biopsy or lymph node dissection)
**3)** **Code 01-99** for the exact number of examined
**4)** **Code X1** for 100 or more examined nodes
**5)** **Code X2** for nodes examined, but unknown how many
**6)** **Code X6** for aspiration or core biopsy of para-aortic node(s)
**7)** **Code X9** when
* **a.** Not documented in the medical record
* **b.** Para-aortic lymph nodes not evaluated (assessed)
* **c.** Unknown if Para-aortic lymph nodes not evaluated (assessed)
Default
X8
Metadata
SSDI
| Code |
Description |
| 00 |
No para-aortic nodes examined |
| 01-99 |
1 - 99 para-aortic nodes examined
(Exact number of para-aortic lymph nodes examined) |
| X1 |
100 or more para-aortic nodes examined |
| X2 |
Para-aortic nodes examined; number unknown |
| X6 |
No para-aortic lymph nodes removed, but aspiration or core biopsy of para-aortic node(s) only |
| X8 |
Not applicable: Information not collected for this case
(If this item is required by your standard setter, use of code X8 will result in an edit error.) |
| X9 |
Not documented in medical record
Cannot be determined, indeterminate if examined para-aortic nodes present
Para-aortic lymph nodes not assessed or unknown if assessed |
