Clinical Margin Width (Melanoma Skin)

Data Item Details

Parent Schema: Melanoma Skin
NAACCR Item: #3961
NAACCR XML ID: clinicalMarginWidth

Notes

Note 1 Effective years

• This SSDI is effective for diagnosis years 2023+ AND primary sites C440-C449 only. For all other primary sites, code XX.9

• See case_identification _guidelines_standard_5_5.pdf (facs.org)

• For cases diagnosed 2018-2022, this SSDI must be blank

Note 2 Measuring the margins

• “The appropriate (wide local excision) margins are measured from the periphery of any gross residual tumor or the edges of the entire previous biopsy scar (shave or excisional).” Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2, page 392.

Note 3 Code peripheral surgical margins from the operative report from a wide excision
+ Do not use the pathology report to code this data item.
+ Margins from wide excision-Measured from the edge of the lesion or the prior excision scar to the peripheral margin of the specimen, do not use deep margin
+ Do not add margins together
+ If multiple wide excisions are performed, code the clinical margin width from the procedure with the largest margin
+ If a range is listed, code the lower range
+ Example Clinical Width Margin documented as 1-1.2 cm. Code 1 cm

Note 4 Physician statement

• Physician statement of clinical margin width can be used to code this data item when no other information is available, or the available information is ambiguous
  + Order of priority

• Operative Note

• Physician statement in medical record

Note 5 Code formats

• Record stated margin in centimeters. Include decimal point.
  Examples
  + 0.5 cm - 0.5
  + 1 cm- 1.0
  + 2.5 cm - 2.5