Collaborative Stage

Note 1: Only include the number of positive ipsilateral level I and II axillary lymph nodes and intramammary lymph nodes in this field beginning with CS version 2. Intramammary are not the same as internal mammary.
Note 2: Record this field even if there has been preoperative treatment.
Note 3: Lymph nodes with only isolated tumor cells (ITCs) are NOT counted as positive lymph nodes. Only lymph nodes with metastases greater than 0.2 mm (micrometastases or larger) should be counted as positive. If the pathology report indicates that nodes are positive but size of the metastases is not stated, assume the metastases are greater than 0.2 mm and code the lymph nodes as positive in this field.
Note 4: This field is based on pathologic information only. If no ipsilateral axillary nodes were removed for examination, or if an ipsilateral axillary lymph node drainage area was removed but no lymph nodes were found, code 098.
Note 5: The general coding instructions in Part I for Regional Nodes Positive also apply to this field (although the codes in Regional Nodes Positive are 2 digits rather than 3). When positive ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes are coded in this field, the number of positive ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes must be less than or equal to the number coded in Regional Nodes Positive (i.e., the number of positive ipsilateral axillary nodes will always be a subset of the number of positive regional nodes.)

Code	Description
000	All ipsilateral axillary nodes examined negative
001-089	1 - 89 nodes positive (code exact number of nodes positive)
090	90 or more nodes positive
095	Positive aspiration of lymph node(s)
097	Positive nodes - number unspecified
098	No axillary nodes examined
099	Unknown if axillary nodes are positive; not applicable Not documented in patient record

CS Site-Specific Factor 3
Number of Positive Ipsilateral Level I-II Axillary Lymph Nodes