Alternate Name	Item#	Length	Source of Standard	Column #
Scope of Regional Lymph Node Surgery (SEER/CoC)	1292	1	SEER/CoC	1569-1569

Description
Describes the removal, biopsy or aspiration of regional lymph node(s) at the time of surgery of the primary site or during a separate surgical event at all facilities.

Rationale
In evaluating quality-of-care and treatment practices it is important to identify the removal, biopsy, or aspiration of regional lymph node(s) at the time of surgery of the primary site or during a separate surgical event.

Codes (Refer to the most recent version of FORDS and SEER Program Code Manual for additional instructions.)

0	None
1	Biopsy or aspiration of regional lymph node, NOS
2	Sentinel lymph node biopsy
3	Number of regional lymph nodes removed unknown, not stated; regional lymph nodes removed, NOS
4	1 to 3 regional lymph nodes removed
5	4 or more regional lymph nodes removed
6	Sentinel node biopsy and code 3, 4, or 5 at same time or timing not noted
7	Sentinel node biopsy and code 3, 4, or 5 at different times
9	Unknown or not applicable

Note: One important use of registry data is the tracking of treatment patterns over time. To compare contemporary treatment to previously published treatment based on former codes, or to data unmodified from pre-1998 definitions, the ability to differentiate surgeries in which four or more regional lymph nodes are removed is desirable. However, it is very important to note that the distinction between codes 4 and 5 is made to permit comparison of current surgical procedures with procedures coded in the past when the removal of fewer than 4 nodes was not reflected in surgery codes. It is not intended to reflect clinical significance when applied to a particular surgical procedure. It is important to avoid inferring, by data presentation or other methods, that one category is preferable to another within the intent of these items.