QC Corner Coding Tip: Is a Glomus Jugulare Tumor Reportable

Highlighting cancer registry coding topics, questions, and clarifications. Is a Glomus Jugulare Tumor Reportable?

Glomus jugulare is a rare, slow-growing neuroendocrine paraganglioma of the head and neck that develops within the jugular foramen and is confined to the jugular fossa in the temporal bone at the skull base. Paragangliomas are benign tumors originating from neural crest derivatives called paraganglia. They are also known as chemodectomas, with an estimated incidence of up to 1 to 3 cases per 100,000 people. There are two types of paragangliomas: sympathetic and parasympathetic, with most head and neck paragangliomas, including glomus jugulare tumors, arising from the latter type. Paragangliomas are benign and originate from neural crest derivatives known as paraganglia.

Glomus Jugulare Tumors, Paraganglioma, and Carotid Body Tumors are reportable, starting with diagnoses made on or after 1/1/2019 for primary sites C75.4 (carotid body) and C75.5 (aortic body and other paraganglia). Histology is coded 8690/3. Before 1/1/2021: the diagnosis must be stated as malignant. 1/1/2021 forward: “Malignant” is no longer required to assign /3.

For Non-Malignant CNS – A Glomus tympanicum, glomus jugulare tumor is a non-reportable histology term and code 8690/1. Use the STRs Table 3 for non-malignant neoplasms only. These tumors can occur in the inner ear, the aortic body, and other paraganglia; these sites are not reportable as non-malignant. See the Head and Neck Table 9 for malignant glomus jugular tumors.

Refer to the most current Solid Tumor Rules https://seer.cancer.gov/tools/solidtumor/ when abstracting a glomus jugulare tumor.

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