Site-Specific Factor 5: Cheek (Buccal) Mucosa, Vestibule

Levels VI-VII and Facial Lymph Nodes for Head and Neck

Note: Site-Specific Factors 3-6 are used to code the presence or absence of lymph node involvement in each of 7 different levels and other groups defined by AJCC. The definitions of the levels are the same for all applicable head and neck sites. One digit is used to represent lymph nodes of a single level, with the three digits of Site-Specific Factor 3 representing lymph nodes of, respectively, Levels I-III; the digits of Site-Specific Factor 4 representing lymph nodes of Levels IV and V and the retropharyngeal nodes; the digits of Site-Specific Factor 5 representing lymph nodes of Levels VI and VII and the facial nodes; and the digits of Site-Specific Factor 6 representing the remaining Other groups as defined by AJCC. In each digit, a code 1 means Yes, the nodes are involved.

Code Description
000 No lymph node involvement in Levels VI or VII or facial nodes
100 Level VI lymph node(s) involved
010 Level VII lymph node(s) involved
001 Facial (buccinator, nasolabial) lymph node(s) involved
110 Level VI and VII lymph nodes involved
101 Level VI and facial (buccinator, nasolabial) nodes involved
011 Level VII and facial (buccinator, nasolabial) nodes involved
111 Level VI and VII and facial (buccinator, nasolabial) lymph nodes involved
999 Unknown if regional lymph node(s) involved, not stated
Regional lymph node(s) cannot be assessed
Not documented in patient record
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