The July Oncology Coding Break is Part 1 of a 4 Part Series on the Female Reproductive System. This month, we will focus on ovary.
Abstracting ovarian primaries can be a challenge, due to the complex nature of the female pelvis and nearby organs. Melissa Meador, Ph.D., ODS-C lends her expertise to explain the true pelvis and it’s contents, the pelvic brim, the false pelvis and it’s contents, and the abdomen. Melissa explains the difference between ovarian cancer “shedding” vs. lymphatic or blood vessel spread, and how that affects staging.
After exploring the female pelvis and abdomen anatomy, Heather Donohue, ODS-C takes us through AJCC criteria for staging ovarian cases, focusing on the most complex T categories–T2 and T3. Heather provides clarity on liver and spleen surface vs. parenchymal involvement, as well as how omentum involvement should be captured. Next, Heather walks us through EOD and SEER Summary Staging, again, focusing on specific criteria for coding EOD and SEER Summary stage, based on location of peritoneal implants and disease spread. Finally, Heather guides us on best practices for accuracy when determining AJCC, EOD, and SEER Summary Stage through a case scenario.
We hope to see you back in August for Part 2 of this series: Female Reproductive System: Uterus and Fallopian Tube Anatomy and Staging Guidance.