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SMALL-CELL CANCER OF THE FEMALE GENITAL
TRACT
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| ALTERNATE NAMES |
Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Cancer of the Vaginal Tract; Primary Vaginal
Small-Cell Carcinoma; Small-Cell Cancer of the Cervix; Small-Cell Cancer of the Ovary;
Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Endometrium; Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Fallopian Tube;
Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Uterus; Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Vagina; Small-Cell
Carcinoma of the Vulva; Vaginal Small-Cell Cancer; Vaginal Small-Cell Carcinoma
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DESCRIPTION
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Small-Cell
cancer
(SCC) of the
female
genital
tract
(FGT) occurs most frequently in the cervix, but can also occur in the endometrium, ovary,
fallopian tube, vagina, and vulva. It is an extremely aggressive cancer with a biological
behavior that is similar to small-cell cancer of the lung. Neuroendocrine tumors of
the FGT, of which SCC FGT are a subset, are rare cancers that account for less than
2% of gynecological cancers.
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DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, PHYSICAL FINDINGS, AND
ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM
CODING
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Diagnostic testing: Computed tomography (CT) scan of FGT, brain, chest, abdomen, and pelvis; and bone
marrow testing.
Physical findings: Individuals with SCC FGT may be asymptomatic but usually present with:
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-
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•
Abdominal bloating or a mass; or
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•
Symptoms of metastasis disease to the liver, bone, lung, or regional lymph nodes.
ICD-9: 179; 180.1; 180.8; 183.0; 183.2; 183.3; 183.5; 183.8; 183.9; 184.4; 184.8; 184.9
ICD-10:C57.9
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TREATMENT
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There is no standard treatment for SCC FGT. Treatment is symptom specific and generally
consists of a combination of surgery; radiation; chemotherapy; and immunotherapy.
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PROGRESSION
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SCC FGT is a highly aggressive tumor that often metastasizes early and widely by both
lymphatic and haematogenous routes and involves regional and distant lymph nodes,
lung, bone and brain and liver. The disease-free interval is usually less than two
years with an almost 70% rate of recurrence within 12 months of diagnosis. Long-term
survival is possible for individuals with cancers that are clinically localized to
the cervix but individuals with more advanced stage of the disease is poor with very
few long-term survivors.
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SUGGESTED PROGRAMMATIC ASSESSMENT*
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Suggested MER for Evaluation:
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•
Clinical history and examination that describes the diagnostic features of the impairment;
and
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•
Pathology report showing SCC FGT.
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Suggested Listings for Evaluation:
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DETERMINATION
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LISTING
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REMARKS
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Meets
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13.23 F
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SCC FGT meets the criteria in listing 13.23 F upon confirmed diagnosis. |
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Equals
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* Adjudicators may, at their discretion, use the Medical Evidence of Record or the
listings suggested to evaluate the claim. However, the decision to allow or deny the
claim rests with the adjudicator.
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