[tjanes@fredhutch.org]

Just to comment from a SEER registry perspective, we have been using codes 987 for both SSF4 and SSF5 for the above situation for breast (clinical N0, pathologic NX) because the definition of code 987 was modified slightly for use with TNM. The definition of 987 for SSF4 and 5 = Not applicable: Regional Lymph Nodes not assigned pN0.

However, I do think selecting the correct code for this situation is confusing because all of the definitions for the codes under these SSF’s don’t necessarily fit for TNM. These SSF’s were used previously to derive path N (I+, I-), but we really aren’t deriving path N like we did before, we are directly coding it.

I don’t disagree with allowing 000, but if 987 is also allowed, it may lead to inconsistent coding within a registry, although it may really be insignificant. Maybe the SEER version of the edit will have to be different?

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