California Cancer Reporting System Standards Volume I: Abstracting and Coding Procedures
Vague or ambiguous terms are sometimes used by physicians when indicating the primary site of a tumor. Interpretation of terms in this context is like their interpretation in a diagnosis of cancer itself. See Section II.2.4.
Interpret the following terms as an indication of the primary site:
Apparently (malignant)
Appears to
Comparable with
Compatible with (a malignancy)
Consistent with (a malignancy)
Favor (a malignancy)
Malignant appearing
Most likely (malignant)
Presumed (malignant)
Probable (malignancy)
Suspect or suspected (malignancy)
Suspicious (of malignancy)
Typical (of/for malignancy)
Ambiguous terms not listed above are NOT considered indication of primary site.
Ambiguous terms may be located in any source document, such as pathology, operative, radiology, or clinical reports. This does not include tumor marker reports.
Do not substitute synonyms such as “supposed” for presumed or “equal” for comparable. Do not substitute “likely” for “most likely.”
Benign and borderline primary intracranial and CNS tumors:
Use the above “Ambiguous terms that are reportable” list to identify benign and borderline primary intracranial and CNS primary tumors.
Ambiguous terms not listed above are NOT considered indication of primary site.
If any of the reportable ambiguous terms precede either the word “tumor” or the word “neoplasm”, it is considered an indication of a primary site.