Tumor Tip of the Week 07-17-2026 More Than Just a Number: Capture Both the Lab Value and Interpretation

07-17-2026 More Than Just a Number: Capture Both the Lab Value and Interpretation

Scenario:

• 07-01-2026 Colonoscopy w/ biopsy: Ascending Colon Mod Diff Adenocarcinoma
• 07-15-2026 Right Hemicolectomy

Question: Which entry below represents how a CEA lab value should be recorded in your text?

1. CEA 2.5
2. 07/05/2026 CEA 2.5
3. 07/05/2026 CEA 2.5 (elevated)

Answer & Rationale: 07/05/2026 CEA 2.5 (elevated)

To fully support coding of the CEA Pretreatment Lab Value SSDI and CEA Pretreatment Interpretation SSDI, your text documentation should include:

• Date the lab was performed
• Lab value reported
• Interpretation (elevated, normal, positive, negative, etc.)

Example:

• 07/05/2026 CEA 2.5 (elevated)

This single statement substantiates:

• The lab was performed prior to treatment
• The CEA pretreatment lab value (2.5)
• The CEA pretreatment interpretation (elevated)

Remember

Date + Value + Interpretation = Complete Lab Documentation

If any of these components are missing, the text may not fully support the coded SSDI values.

Bottom Line: Don’t just document the number. Document the date, the value, and the interpretation so your text fully supports both the pretreatment lab value and interpretation fields.