Surgery Primary Site (STORE)

Field Length: 2

Record the surgical procedure(s) performed to the primary site.

• Site-specific codes for this data item are found in Appendix G- Surgery Codes-STORE.

• For codes 00 through 79, the response positions are hierarchical. Last-listed responses take precedence over responses written above. Code 98 takes precedence over code 00. Use codes 80 and 90 only if more precise information about the surgery is unavailable.

• Biopsies that remove all of the tumor and/or leave only microscopic margins are to be coded in this item, even if documented as "incisional biopsy."

• If a needle biopsy precedes an excisional biopsy or more extensive surgery, and upon the excisional biopsy or more extensive surgery no tumor remains, DO NOT consider the needle biopsy to be an excisional biopsy.

• Surgery to remove regional tissue or organs is coded in this item only if the tissue/organs are removed in continuity with the primary site, except where noted in Appendix G- Surgery Codes-STORE.

• If a previous surgical procedure to remove a portion of the primary site is followed by surgery to remove the remainder of the primary site, then code the total or final results.

  • Example:

    • Enter 2 surgeries, but on the second surgery therapy, use the surgical procedure code that means the complete removal of the organ (or the more extensive surgery).  For example, if you have a right thyroid lobectomy code 21) and then later a subtotal thyroidectomy (code 40) which removes all of the remaining thyroid, then use code 50 for Total thyroidectomy in the second surgical treatment code.

• For all hematopoietic, reticuloendothelial, immunoproliferative, and myeloproliferative diseases, this code is 98. Any surgical procedures performed for these diagnoses are recorded in the data item Surgical Procedure Other Site-FORDS.