Datasets
The dataset has been developed for the reporting of resection and biopsy specimens of mucosal melanoma arising in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx. All other malignancies are dealt with in separate ICCR datasets, specifically cutaneous melanoma is separately reported.
Direct extension of a cutaneous primary into a mucosal site should be excluded and would not be reported in this dataset. Metastatic melanoma to a head and neck mucosal site is also excluded. If there are overlapping sites, clinical centring of the tumour should determine the dataset to be completed. If a primary tumour extends to involve the contralateral side, the tumour is still considered a unifocal tumour, but involving multiple, contiguous sites. It should be noted that for limited biopsies the pathologist may not be able to complete all of the elements in the ICCR dataset.
Neck lymph node dissections and excisions are dealt with in a separate dataset, and this dataset should be used in conjunction, where applicable.
This dataset is intended for use for primary cancer resections. For resections of recurrent disease, the reporting guide may be used pragmatically although some data elements may be not applicable nor assessable.
These datasets were developed with the kind support of the North American Society of Head and Neck Pathology (NASHNP), American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (AAOMP), International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists (IAOP), and British Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (BSOMP).
2nd edition – July 2024
Updated following the publication of the 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Head and Neck Tumours, 5th edition.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
• Added a new element ‘Clinical information’.
• Updated the ‘Tumour site’ element.
• Added a new element ‘Tumour laterality’.
• Added a new element ‘Block identification key’.
• Updated the ‘Histological tumour type’ element.
• Added a new element ‘Necrosis’.
• Added a new element ‘Extent of invasion’.
• Added a new element ‘Lymphovascular invasion’.
• Added a new element ‘Perineural invasion’.
• Added a new element ‘Post therapy changes’.
• Added a new sub-element ‘Representative blocks for ancillary studies’.
• Other minor updates were also included.
• Revised all notes, including incorporation of the most recent 2024 WHO Classification.
1st edition – September 2018
Authors of the previous edition of this dataset are available here.
