Scenario: 01/01/2022 Tonsillar fossa (C090) biopsy shows invasive non- keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, p16 by IHC: Positive (this is a single tumor-no other tumors are noted)
Question: How should the histology be assigned?
- 8070 squamous cell carcinoma
- 8072 non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma
- 8085 squamous cell carcinoma, HPV positive
Answer: 8085 Squamous cell carcinoma, HPV positive
Solid Tumor Rules Head & Neck
New for 2022
1. The 2018 Solid Tumor Head and Neck Rules, Table 5, instruct squamous cell carcinoma, HPV positive (8085) and squamous cell carcinoma, HPV negative (8086) are coded only when HPV status is determined by tests based on ISH, PCR, RT-PCR technologies to detect the viral DNA or RNA. P16 was not a valid test to assign these codes. Beginning with cases diagnosed 1/1/2022 forward, p16 test results can be used to code squamous cell carcinoma, HPV positive (8085) and squamous cell carcinoma, HPV negative (8086.
2. Beginning 1/1/2022, non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, HPV positive is coded 8085 for sites listed in Table 5 only. A diagnosis of non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, NOS is coded 8072.
3. Beginning 1/1/2022, keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, HPV negative is coded 8086 for sites listed in Table 5 only. A diagnosis of keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, NOS is coded 8071.