Lymph Nodes Distant Assessment Method
Description
This data item describes the method used to assess involvement of Distant (mediastinal, scalene) nodes associated with certain female genital cancers.
In addition to assigning the N categories for vulva, vagina, and cervical cancers, the collection of specific lymph nodes and how they were assessed is important.
* Status refers to positive or negative involvement
* Assessment is the method by which the nodal status was determined
There are 3 related data items that collect assessment method information on regional lymph nodes, and 1 data item for distant lymph nodes.
The LN assessment data items collect how the lymph nodes were assessed for femoral-inguinal, para-aortic, and pelvic lymph nodes, and distant lymph nodes scalene and mediastinal. These related data items include
* 3871: LN Assessment Method Femoral-Inguinal
* 3872: LN Assessment Method Para-Aortic
* 3873: LN Assessment Method Pelvic
* 3874: LN Distant Assessment Method
Rationale
Method of assessment of distant nodal status is listed as a Registry Data Collection Variable in the AJCC GYN chapters. This data item was previously collected as Vagina, CS SSF #7.
Additional Info
**Source documents:** pathology report, imaging, physical exam, other statement in record
Notes
**Note 1:** **Physician Statement**
* Physician statement of Mediastinal and Scalene assessment method can be used to code this data item when no other information is available.
**Note 2:** **Related data item**
* The status of the lymph nodes is recorded in the related data item 3875: LN Distant: Mediastinal, Scalene.
Coding Guidelines
**1)** Assign the highest applicable code (0-2) in the case of multiple assessments
**2)** **Code 0** when there is physical exam or imaging only
**3)** **Code 1** when there is an incisional biopsy or FNA
**4)** **Code 2** when there is an excisional biopsy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, or lymph node resection
**5)** **Code 7** when lymph nodes are assessed, but it is unknown how
**6)** **Code 9** when
* **a.** Not documented in medical record
* **b.** Regional/Distant lymph nodes not evaluated (assessed)
* **c.** Unknown if regional/distant lymph nodes evaluated (assessed)
Default
8
Metadata
SSDI
| Code |
Description |
| 0 |
Radiography, imaging
(Ultrasound (US), computed tomography scan (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography scan (PET))
Physical exam only |
| 1 |
Incisional biopsy; fine needle aspiration (FNA) |
| 2 |
Lymphadenectomy
Excisional biopsy or resection with microscopic confirmation |
| 7 |
Distant lymph node(s) assessed, unknown assessment method |
| 8 |
Not applicable: Information not collected for this case
(If this item is required by your standard setter, use of code 8 will result in an edit error.) |
| 9 |
Not documented in medical record
Distant lymph node(s) not assessed or unknown if assessed |
