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EOD Regional Nodes
Coding lymph nodes for colorectal are based on several different factors
- Number of nodes positive based on surgical removal of lymph nodes
- The number of positive regional nodes is coded in the NAACCR Data Item #820, Regional Nodes Positive.
- If there is no lymph node dissection, or the surgical pathology report is not available, the clinical status of the lymph nodes can be recorded as well.
- Clinical status of lymph nodes is also based on the number of nodes positive.
Per EOD General Instructions, pathological assessment always takes priority over clinical. For example, if a physician states a patient is clinically N2a, and then the pathology for the lymph node dissection shows no regional nodes positive, then no positive nodes would be recorded.
Regional lymph nodes for colorectal include
- Colic
- Epicolic (adjacent to bowel wall)
- Mesenteric
- Paracolic
- Pericolic, perirectal
Note: There are additional regional lymph nodes depending on the subsite. See EOD Regional Nodes or Summary Stage for a complete listing of the regional lymph nodes by subsite.
See SEER*RSA, Colon and Rectum, for the current version of EOD and complete coding instructions for the Colon and Rectum schema.
Updated: June 24, 2025