Which coding system is used to classify tumor histology and behavior, and what are the two components?

Which coding system is used to classify tumor histology and behavior, and what are the two components?

• A. ICD-10; site and morphology
• B. SNOMED CT; histology and behavior
• C. ICD-O; morphology (histology) and behavior code; site/topography is separate
• D. CPT; procedure and length of stay

Answer: (C)

ICD-O is the system used to classify tumors by what they are made of and how they behave. It has two parts: morphology, which codes the histologic type of the tumor, and a separate behavior code that indicates how the tumor behaves biologically (benign, in situ, malignant, etc.). The site or topography of the tumor is coded separately from these two components. For example, a given tumor would have a morphology code describing its histology and a behavior code indicating malignancy, while the location (such as colon or breast) is captured in its own topography code. This separation lets registries precisely describe both the histology and the behavior of the tumor, independent of where it appears in the body.

ICD-O is the system used to classify tumors by what they are made of and how they behave. It has two parts: morphology, which codes the histologic type of the tumor, and a separate behavior code that indicates how the tumor behaves biologically (benign, in situ, malignant, etc.). The site or topography of the tumor is coded separately from these two components. For example, a given tumor would have a morphology code describing its histology and a behavior code indicating malignancy, while the location (such as colon or breast) is captured in its own topography code. This separation lets registries precisely describe both the histology and the behavior of the tumor, independent of where it appears in the body.