Definition
Components
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Data Element ConceptPerson with cancer—number of regional lymph nodes examined
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Object ClassPerson with cancer
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PropertyNumber of regional lymph nodes examined
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Value DomainTotal number N[N]
Representation
This representation is based on the value domain for this data element, more information is available at " Total number N[N] ".| Data Type | Number |
|---|---|
| Format | N[N] |
| Maximum character length | 2 |
| Value | Meaning | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplementary Values | 99 | Not stated/inadequately described |
Comments
Guide for use:
A list of which lymph nodes are defined as regional lymph nodes for each cancer site may be found in the current edition of the TNM Classification of Tumours, UICC (International Union Against Cancer) or the AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) Cancer Staging Manual.
The number includes all nodes examined regardless of whether they were removed and examined at a single or multiple procedures. For example, for breast cancer, record the sum of regional lymph nodes examined from node sampling, sentinel node biopsy and axillary clearance.
The number of regional lymph nodes is cumulative from all procedures that removed lymph nodes through the completion of surgeries for the initial treatment of the cancer. The initial course of treatment includes all treatments administered to the patient from diagnosis and before disease progression or recurrence.
Breast cancer:
Regional lymph nodes include all ipsilateral axillary nodes (levels 1, 2 and 3), ipsilateral internal mammary nodes, supraclavicular nodes and intramammary lymph nodes. All other nodes (including contralateral axillary, contralateral internal mammary nodes and cervical nodes) are considered to be distant metastases and should not be recorded in this data item. Definitions are from the UICC TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours, 7th Edition.
Origin:
Australian Cancer Network
Commission on Cancer American College of SurgeonsReferences
American College of Surgeons 1998. Standards of the Commission on Cancer: Registry Operations and Data Standards (ROADS), Volume II, Commission on Cancer
American Joint Committee on Cancer 2010. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 7th edition. New York: Springer
Australian Cancer Network & National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Network 2001. The pathology reporting of breast cancer: A guide for pathologists, surgeons, radiologists and oncologists, 3rd edition. Sydney: Australian Cancer Network & National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Network
Johnson CH & Adamo M (Editors) 2007. SEER Program Coding and Staging Manual 2007, MD 2008 revision. Bethesda: National Cancer Institute, NIH Publication number 07-5581
Sobin LH, Gospodarowicz MK, Wittekind C (Editors) 2009. International Union Against Cancer (UICC): TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours, 7th edition. Wiley-BlackwellThis content Based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare material. Attribution provided as required under the AIHW CC-BY licence.