Code

Description

00

None; no surgery of primary site; autopsy only

No specimen sent to pathology from surgical events 10-14.

SEER Note: Assign code 11 if there is no pathology specimen. Assign code 21 if there is a pathology specimen. Codes 20-27 include shave and wedge resection

10

Local tumor destruction, NOS

11

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

12

Electrocautery; fulguration

Note: Includes use of hot forceps for tumor destruction.

13

Cryosurgery

14

Laser ablation

Specimen sent to pathology from surgical events 20-60.

20

Local tumor excision, NOS

26

Polypectomy

27

Excisional biopsy

Any combination of 20 or 26 - 27 WITH

Clarification: The following codes include local tumor excision, polypectomy or excisional biopsy

21

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

22

Electrocautery

23

Cryosurgery

24

Laser ablation

25

Laser excision

30

Biopsy of primary tumor followed by a gross excision of the lesion

Note: Does not have to be done under the same anesthesia.

SEER Note: Codes 30 to 35 include less than a wide excision, less than or equal to 1-cm margin, or status of margin is unknown. If it is stated to be a wide excision or reexcision, but the margins are unknown, code to 30. Assign a surgery code from the 30-35 range when any margin is less than 1 cm.

Example: Melanoma: with surgical margins greater than 1 cm for length and width but less than 1 cm for depth. Assign a surgery code in the 30-35 range. Since tumor thickness is an important prognostic factor for cutaneous melanoma, the deep margin is of particular importance. Use code 45 when there is a wide excision AND it is known that the margins are greater than 1 cm

31

Shave biopsy followed by a gross excision of the lesion

32

Punch biopsy followed by a gross excision of the lesion

33

Incisional biopsy followed by a gross excision of the lesion

34

Mohs surgery, NOS

SEER Note: Assign code 34 for shave biopsy followed by MOHS surgery for melanoma of the skin

35

Mohs with 1-cm margin or less

36

Mohs with more than 1-cm margin

45

Wide excision or re-excision of lesion or minor (local) amputation with margins more than 1 cm, NOS. Margins must be microscopically negative.

[Formerly SEER code 40 or 50 = wide excision or re-excision of lesion or minor (local) amputation, NOS, margins of excision are 1 cm or more, margins may be microscopically involved.]

Note: If the excision does not have microscopically negative margins greater than 1 cm, use the appropriate code, 20-36.

46

With margins more than 1 cm and less than or equal to 2 cm

47

With margins greater than 2 cm

SEER Note: Assign Code 47 for amputation of finger

60

Major amputation

90

Surgery, NOS

99

Unknown if surgery performed; death certificate only