Tumor Tips

Tumor Tip of the Week-06-30-2023 CRM >1cm

Scenario 2023:

  • Colon Cancer Adenocarcinoma Case pathologist report margins as:
    • Closest Margin(s) to Invasive Carcinoma Radial (circumferential) or mesenteric
    • Distance from Invasive Carcinoma to Closest Margin Greater than 1 cm

Question:  How would you assign the SSDI Circumferential Resection Margin (CRM)? [Multiple choice, choose one answer]

  • 10.1
  • XX.6 Described as “greater than” 3 mm.

Answer:  10.1

Rationale: 

Consulted the CAnswer forum because we wavered between XX.6 and 10.1- J. Ruhl said to use the General rules and code 1 above stated value.

1cm =10mm, so we will assign 1 more above stated value 10.1

SSDI Manual-General Rules

  • Recording values when “less than” or “greater than” are used.
    • Record the value as one less than stated when a value is reported as “less than X,” and as one more

than stated when a value is reported as “more than X.” One less or one more may refer to a whole

number (1), or a decimal (0.1), depending on the code structure of the field.

Blog

Tumor Tip

Tumor Tip of the Week 05-09-2025 Coding Primary Site-Test Your Knowledge-Utilize Your Resources

Blog

Tumor Tip

Tumor Tip of the Week 04-25-2025 Revised Instructions for Sentinel Lymph Nodes Positive for 2025

Blog

Tumor Tip

Tumor Tip of the Week-04-18-2025 Lung-Low Cervical Nodes Distant or Reg-depends on the field

Contact Us

Contact us today to learn how our technology-led, clinically enabled solutions can help your organization thrive.