How to Assign the EOD Data Items

General Guidelines

• Schema-specific guidelines take precedence over general guidelines
• Use all information available within four months of diagnosis in the absence of disease progression OR completion of surgery(ies)
  • Combination of most precise clinical and pathological
  • When multiple tumors reported as single primary, assign greatest extent from any tumor
    • Use Solid Tumor rules to determine number of primaries
  • If discrepancy between clinical and pathological information, pathological takes priority
  • If discrepancy between pathology and operative reports concerning excised tissue, pathology takes priority
• Assign highest code representing greatest extension/lymph node involvement or mets
  • General priority order
    • Pathological (pathology report)
    • Imaging (when no pathology available)
    • Physical exam (when no pathology or imaging available)
• Neoadjuvant therapy and post-therapy stage
  • If clinical information (clinical stage) is GREATER than the post neoadjuvant surgical information, assign EOD based on clinical information
  • If clinical information (clinical stage) is LESS than the post-neoadjuvant surgical information, assign EOD based on the post neoadjuvant surgical information
• If the only information available is T, N, M or Stage Group
  • Use the definitions from the appropriate AJCC 8th edition chapter and determine the best EOD codes
• If there is a discrepancy between the physician staging and documentation in the medical record
  • If access to physician, query the physician to resolve discrepancy
  • If no access to physician for clarification, stage corresponding to the physician staging

Updated: December 11, 2023