Lymph Nodes Distant: Mediastinal, Scalene
Description
This data item describes the status 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 status information on regional lymph nodes, 1 data item for distant lymph nodes, and 1 data item for laterality.
The LN status data items collect the individual status (positive, negative, unknown) involvement of femoral-inguinal, para-aortic, and pelvic lymph nodes, and distant lymph nodes mediastinal and scalene. These related data items include
* 3957: LN Status: Pelvic
* 3958: LN Status: Para-Aortic
* 3959: LN Status: Femoral-Inguinal
* 3875: LN Distant: Mediastinal, Scalene
Rationale
Specific distant lymph node involvement is listed as a Registry Data Collection Variable in the AJCC. This data was previously collected as Vagina, CS SSF #6.
Additional Info
**Source documents:** pathology report, imaging, physical exam, other statement in record
Notes
**Note 1:** **Physician Statement**
* Physician statement of mediastinal and scalene nodal status can be used to code this data item when no other information is available.
**Note 2:** **Related data item**
* The assessment method is recorded in the related data item 3874: LN Distant Assessment Method.
Coding Guidelines
*1)** **Code 0** when
* **a.** Non-invasive neoplasm (behavior /2) (in-situ)
* **b.** All lymph nodes are negative and included an assessment of the femoral-inguinal lymph nodes
* **c.** If there is no mention of femoral-inguinal lymph node involvement in the area being imaged, biopsied, or in the surgical field and there is no mention of involvement, then assume that the femoral-inguinal lymph nodes are negative
**2)** **Code 9** when
* **a.** When there is no imaging, biopsy, surgical workup, or a physical exam only
* **b.** Not documented in medical record
* **c.** Regional/Distant lymph nodes not evaluated (assessed)
* **d.** Unknown if regional/distant lymph nodes evaluated (assessed)
Default
8
Metadata
SSDI
| Code |
Description |
| 0 |
Negative mediastinal and scalene lymph nodes
Non-invasive neoplasm (behavior /2) |
| 1 |
Positive mediastinal lymph nodes |
| 2 |
Positive scalene lymph nodes |
| 3 |
Positive mediastinal and scalene lymph nodes |
| 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
Mediastinal and scalene lymph node(s) not assessed or unknown if assessed |
