# Neoplasm Observables

<mark style="color:$danger;">**This Editorial Guide is used for Education Purposes Only. It is used in the Authoring Courses and Certifications. It is based on the January 2026 Editorial Guide.**</mark>

Observable entity concepts representing histopathology examination observables of neoplasms are being modeled according to a series of templates.

Please see the templates listed here: [Observable entity templates](https://conf.spaces.snomed.org/wiki/spaces/SCTEMPLATES/pages/133994076/Observable+entity+templates) See the [Cancer Synoptic Reporting](https://conf.spaces.snomed.org/wiki/spaces/CC/pages/131826462/Cancer+Synoptic+Reporting) area for more information about the project.

Concepts containing a *primary* malignant neoplasm from the observable entity subhierarchy employ the 704321009 |Characterizes (attribute)| with the target qualifier value of 1234914003 |Malignant proliferation of primary neoplasm (qualifier value)| in order to define *primary* (which matches the target value of the Pathological process (attribute) used by concepts in the Disorder hierarchy).

For example,

1136681000004107 |Anatomic location of excised primary malignant neoplasm (observable entity)| applies the Characterizes (attribute) with a target of Malignant proliferation of primary neoplasm (qualifier value).

Stated view of 1136681000004107 |Anatomic location of excised primary malignant neoplasm (observable entity)|:

<figure><img src="https://3063935683-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FSZh4aZdgpviXMYp37bCy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8bcc727fb139837b0eca4275fd25dc3a999610c3%2Fimage%20(306).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Stated view of 372087000 |Primary malignant neoplasm (disorder)|:

<figure><img src="https://3063935683-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FSZh4aZdgpviXMYp37bCy%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-09cda90b18827874f8d2f9ed4f63609f500fb4d7%2Fimage%20(307).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Concepts containing a *metastatic* malignant neoplasm from the observable entity subhierarchy do not use 704321009 |Characterizes (attribute)|, but instead are defined by the specific *metastatic* morphologic abnormality. For example, 444384007 |Number of regional lymph nodes containing metastatic neoplasm in excised specimen (observable entity)| has the attribute 246093002 |Component (attribute)| with a target value of 14799000 |Neoplasm, metastatic (morphologic abnormality)|.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Colorectum**

The terms *colorectal* and *colorectum*, commonly used by pathologists, are included in descriptions for concepts referring to neoplasms modeled with 1285733009 |Structure of cecum and/or colon and/or rectum (body structure)|. 1285733009 |Structure of cecum and/or colon and/or rectum (body structure)| is needed because neoplasms are the same from the cecum to rectum and are considered as a group in cancer synoptic reporting protocols. Note, there is no consensus concerning the definition of *colon* in the literature and between different domains.
{% endhint %}

Concepts containing a *metastatic* malignant neoplasm from the observable entity subhierarchy do not use 704321009 |Characterizes (attribute)|, but instead are defined by the specific *metastatic* morphologic abnormality. For example, 444384007 |Number of regional lymph nodes containing metastatic neoplasm in excised specimen (observable entity)| has the attribute 246093002 |Component (attribute)| with a target value of 14799000 |Neoplasm, metastatic (morphologic abnormality)|.

Concepts containing a *metastatic* malignant neoplasm from the observable entity subhierarchy do not use 704321009 |Characterizes (attribute)|, but instead are defined by the specific *metastatic* morphologic abnormality. For example, 444384007 |Number of regional lymph nodes containing metastatic neoplasm in excised specimen (observable entity)| has the attribute 246093002 |Component (attribute)| with a target value of 14799000 |Neoplasm, metastatic (morphologic abnormality)|.

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