What does shotty lymph nodes mean code#

If regional lymph nodes for these inaccessible sites are not mentioned on imaging or exploratory surgery, they are presumed to be clinically negative. The best description concerning regional lymph nodes will be on imaging studies or the surgeon's evaluation at the time of exploratory surgery or definitive surgery.

Regional lymph nodes are not palpable for inaccessible sites such as bladder, kidney, prostate, esophagus, stomach, lung, liver, corpus uteri and ovary.For lymphomas, any mention of lymph nodes is indicative of involvement.Any other terms, such as 'palpable,' 'enlarged,' 'visible swelling,' 'shotty,' or 'lymphadenopathy' should be ignored (except for adenopathy, enlargement, and mass in the hilum or mediastinum for lung primaries) unless there is a statement of involvement by the clinician.For solid tumors, the terms 'fixed' or 'matted' and 'mass in the hilum, mediastinum, retroperitoneum, and/or mesentery' (with no specific information as to tissue involved) are considered involvement of lymph nodes.If there is evidence of nodal involvement associated with a tumor described as in situ, it would indicate that an area of invasion was simply missed, and it is NOT an in situ lesion.

What does shotty lymph nodes mean code#

Use code 00 for lymph node involvement when the CS Extension is coded in situ, even if no lymph nodes are removed, since 'in situ' by definition means noninvasive.

If the patient receives preoperative (neoadjuvant) systemic therapy (chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy) or radiation therapy, code the farthest involved regional lymph nodes, whether this is based on information prior to surgery or following treatment.

If there is direct extension of the primary tumor into a regional lymph node, record the involved node in this field.

After axillary dissection, all lymph nodes are negative.Ĭode CS Lymph Nodes as 0, no regional lymph node involvement.

If there is a discrepancy between clinical information and pathologic information about the same lymph nodes, the pathologic information takes precedence.Įxample: Axillary lymphadenopathy stated as 'suspicious for involvement' noted on physical exam.

Record involved regional lymph nodes from the pathology report, if it is available, when the patient receives no radiation or systemic treatment prior to surgery.

Use the code for contralateral mediastinal lymph node involvement as it is higher than the code for peribronchial lymph nodes. Patient chooses radiation therapy as primary treatment. Contralateral mediastinal mass noted on CT scan but not biopsied. Record the highest applicable code.Įxample: Peribronchial lymph nodes are positive on fine needle aspiration biopsy. In addition, for some sites, regional lymph nodes are further classified by size, laterality, and number of involved nodes. The regional lymph nodes closest to the primary site have lower codes than nodes farther away.

Regional lymph nodes are listed for each site.

Record the farthest specific regional lymph node chain that is involved by tumor either clinically or pathologically.

Acknowledgements General Rules Coding CS Lymph Nodes