Which coding system is primarily used for cancer abstracting?

The focus on cancer abstracting is predominantly on the ICD-O, which stands for the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology. This coding system is specifically designed for the classification of neoplasms and provides detailed information about the type, site, and behavior of tumors. It is crucial for tumor registrars to use ICD-O because it allows for standardized coding of cancer diagnoses and treatment, enabling comprehensive data collection for cancer registries.

ICD-O consists of two volumes: Volume 1 contains the topography codes (site of the tumor), and Volume 2 provides the morphology codes (the cellular characteristics of the tumor). This specificity is vital in cancer registration, as it helps maintain the accuracy and reliability of cancer statistics and epidemiological studies.

The other coding systems mentioned do not serve the primary purpose of cancer abstracting. For instance, ICD-10 focuses on a wide range of diseases and is used for billing and diagnosis coding outside the oncology scope. CPT is used for coding medical, surgical, and diagnostic services but does not address tumor characteristics. SNOMED, while comprehensive for medical terminology, is not specifically designed for cancer registries. Therefore, ICD-O is clearly the most relevant and specialized coding system for the task at hand.