06-13-2025
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
Multiple Myeloma patient, treated with Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
Question: How would you code the Hematologic Transplant and Endocrine Procedures? diagnosis, thus allowing
- 11 Bone marrow transplant autologous
- 12 Bone marrow transplant allogeneic
- 20 Stem cell harvest and infusion (stem cell transplant)
Answer & Rationale: 20 Stem cell harvest and infusion (stem cell transplant)
SEER Program Coding & Staging Manual
Assign code 20 for all stem cell transplants
a. Allogeneic stem cell transplant
b. Autologous stem cell transplant
c. Peripheral blood stem cell transplant
d. Umbilical cord stem cell transplant (single or double)
Discussion: Unfortunately, an extremely common mistake we see is the abstractor sees the word “autologous” and just picks an 11 from the drop-down menu, instead of reading the entire name of the procedure and noting it was a Stem Cell Transplant. ☹ Bone Marrow Transplants are either coded as an 11(Autologous BMT) or 12 (Allogenic BMT), however all STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS are coded to 20. A list of the distinct types of stem cell transplants is in the SEER manual, all Stem Cell Transplants are coded to 20. The SEER manual has definitions of the several types of transplants, be sure to review.
TIP: Run a list of cases coded to a Hematologic Transplant and Endocrine Procedure code of 11 or 12, then review the text to substantiate the code, if it was a STEM CELL transplant, the code should be a 20.
