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
* Non-invasive neoplasm (behavior /2) (in-situ)
* All lymph nodes are negative and included an assessment of the mediastinal and scalene lymph nodes
* If there is no mention of mediastinal or scalene 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 mediastinal and scale lymph nodes are negative
**2)** **Code 9** when
* When there is no imaging, biopsy, surgical workup, or a physical exam only
* Not documented in medical record
* Regional/Distant lymph nodes not evaluated (assessed)
* 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 |
