Morphology & Grade

ICD-O-3 Morphology Codes

If the diagnostic term in the pathology report is not in the list below, be sure to consult your ICD-O manual.

Small cell lung cancers include ICD-O morphology codes M-80413, M-80423, M-80433, M-80443, and M-80453. Small cell carcinoma is also called oat cell, round cell, reserve cell, or small cell intermediate cell carcinoma. Small cell cancers are usually central lesions (in the bronchus or toward the center or hilum of the lung). Occasionally, mixed tumors containing small cells and non-small cells are diagnosed. These should be treated as small cell cancers.

Common non-small cell lung cancer histologies:

  • Squamous or epidermoid (807_3)
    Least likely to recur after resection; frequently a central or bronchial lesion.
  • Adenocarcinoma (814_3)
    Usually slow-growing, but can metastasize widely; usually a peripheral lesion.
  • Bronchioloalveolar (82503)
    Avery specific subtype of adenocarcinoma with a distinct characteristic presentation and behavior. Bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinomas arise in the alveolar sacs in the lungs.
  • Large cell carcinoma (80123)
    Also called giant cell or clear cell
    • Other subtypes of adenocarcinoma are acinar, papillary, and mucinous.
  • Adenosquamous carcinoma (85603)
    A specific histologic variant containing both epithelial (squamous) and glandular (adeno-) cells.
  • Carcinoids (824_3)
    Arise from neuroectoderm (which generates supporting structures of lung). Melanomas, sarcomas and lymphomas may also arise in the lung.
  • Mesothelioma (905_3)
    Linked to asbestos exposure; usually involves the pleura, not the lung.
  • Non-small cell carcinoma (80463)
    A general term used sloppily to separate small cell from the "non-small cell" types (such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell, etc.) of carcinomas. Only use 8046/3 when there is no other type of non-small cell carcinoma contained in the source documents.

Synonyms for in situ carcinoma: polypoid with no invasion of stalk, confined to epithelium, intraepidermal, intraepithelial, involvment up to but not through the basement membrane, noninfiltrating, no stromal involvement, papillary noninfiltrating, Stage 0.

Key words:

  • Pancoast tumor
    A tumor of the apex of lung which invades brachial plexus nerves causing pain in the arm.
  • Superior sulcus tumor
    A less invasive tumor of the apex of the lung.
  • Bronchogenic carcinoma (not a specific cell type)
    It is a description of where the tumor arose: broncho- (bronchus) and -genic (arising in). More information should be obtained before the morphology is coded.