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Definition

The side of a paired organ that is the origin of the primary cancer in a person with cancer, as represented by a code.

Components

Data Element (this item)

Representation

This representation is based on the value domain for this data element, more information is available at " Laterality code A ".
Data Type String
Format A
Maximum character length 1
Values
Value Meaning Start Date End Date
Permissible Values R Right
L Left
B Bilateral
Supplementary Values N Not applicable
U Unknown

Comments

Guide for use:

Record the appropriate code at the time of diagnosis.

Definitions

Right:

Origin of primary site is on the right side of a paired organ.

Left:

Origin of primary site is on the left side of a paired organ.

Bilateral:

Origin of primary site is on both sides of a paired organ. (When tumours of the same morphology are diagnosed simultaneously in both sides of a paired organ.)

Includes organs that are bilateral as a single primary (e.g. bilateral retinoblastoma (M9510/3, C69.2), (M9511/3, C69.2), (M9512/3, C69.2), (C69.6, C48.0), bilateral Wilms tumours (C64.9, M8960/3))

Note: Bilateral cancers are very rare.

Unknown:

It is unknown whether, for a paired organ the origin of the cancer was on the left or right side of the body.

Paired organs and structures

The valid International Classification of Diseases for Oncology values for paired organs are provided in the list below:

C02.4

Lingual tonsil

C07.9

Parotid gland

C08.0

Submandibular gland

C08.1

Sublingual gland

C09.0

Tonsillar fossa

C09.1

Tonsillar pillar

C09.8

Overlapping lesion of tonsil

C09.9

Tonsil, NOS

C11.1

Posterior wall of nasopharynx

C30.0

Nasal cavity (excluding nasal cartilage and nasal septum)

C30.1

Middle ear

C31.0

Maxillary sinus

C31.2

Frontal sinus

C34.0

Main bronchus (excluding carina)

C34.1-C34.9

Lung

C38.4

Pleura

C40.0

Long bones of upper limb and scapula

C40.1

Short bones of upper limb

C40.2

Long bones of lower limb

C40.3

Short bones of lower limb

C41.3

Rib and clavicle (excluding sternum)

C41.4

Pelvic bones (excluding sacrum, coccyx and symphysis pubis)

C44.1

Skin of eyelid

C44.2

Skin of external ear

C44.3

Skin of other and unspecified parts of face

C44.5

Skin of trunk

C44.6

Skin of upper limb and shoulder

C44.7

Skin of lower limb and hip

C47.1

Peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system of upper limb and shoulder

C47.2

Peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system of lower limb and hip

C49.1

Connective, subcutaneous and other soft tissues of upper limb and shoulder

C49.2

Connective, subcutaneous and other soft tissues of lower limb and hip

C50.0-C50.9

Breast

C56.9

Ovary

C57.0

Fallopian tube

C62.0-C62.9

Testis

C63.0

Epididymis

C63.1

Spermatic cord

C64.9

Kidney, NOS

C65.9

Renal pelvis

C66.9

Ureter

C69.0-C69.9

Eye and lacrimal gland

C70.0

Cerebral meninges, NOS

C71.0

Cerebrum

C71.1

Frontal lobe

C71.2

Temporal lobe

C71.3

Parietal lobe

C71.4

Occipital lobe

C72.2

Olfactory nerve

C72.3

Optic nerve

C72.4

Acoustic nerve

C72.5

Cranial nerve, NOS

C74.0-C74.9

Adrenal gland

C75.0

Parathyroid glands

C75.4

Carotid body

C76.4

Upper limb, NOS

C76.5

Lower limb, NOS

C77.3

Lymph nodes of axilla or arm

C77.4

Lymph nodes of inguinal region or leg

Origin:
World Health Organization

Comments:
The laterality of the primary tumour may have implications for treatment and prognosis, and can be of assistance to cancer registries for the coding of subsequent tumours in paired organs.

References

American College of Surgeons 2002. Facility Oncology Registry Data Standards (FORDS), 2010 revision. Commission on Cancer

Fritz A et al. 2000. International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O), 3rd edition. Geneva: World Health Organization
This content Based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare material. Attribution provided as required under the AIHW CC-BY licence.

Related content

Relation Count
Input in Derivations 0
Output in Derivations 0
Inclusion in Data Set Specifications 2
Inclusion in Data Distributions 0
As a numerator in an Indicator 0
As a denominator in an Indicator 0
As a disaggregation in an Indicator 0