Listing code
13.23
Adult (Part A)
Body system
13.00
Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases)
Subsections
6
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Cancers of the female genital tract -carcinoma or sarcoma (including primary peritoneal carcinoma). .
Subsection A
Uterus (corpus), as described in 1, 2, or 3: 1. Invading adjoining organs. 2. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes. 3. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. OR
- Invading adjoining organs.
- With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
- Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. OR
Subsection B
Uterine cervix, as described in 1, 2 or 3: 1. Extending to the pelvic wall, lower portion of the vagina, or adjacent or distant organs. 2. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. 3. With metastases to distant (for example, para-aortic or supraclavicular) lymph nodes. OR
- Extending to the pelvic wall, lower portion of the vagina, or adjacent or distant organs.
- Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
- With metastases to distant (for example, para-aortic or supraclavicular) lymph nodes. OR
Subsection C
Vulva or vagina, as described in 1, 2, or 3: 1. Invading adjoining organs. 2. With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes. 3. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. OR
- Invading adjoining organs.
- With metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes.
- Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. OR
Subsection D
Fallopian tubes, as described in 1 or 2: 1. Extending to the serosa or beyond. 2. Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. OR
- Extending to the serosa or beyond.
- Persistent or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. OR
Subsection E
Ovaries, as described in 1 or 2: 1. All cancers except germ-cell cancers, with at least one of the following: a. Extension beyond the pelvis; for example, implants on, or direct extension to, peritoneal, omental, or bowel surfaces. b. Metastases to or beyond the regional lymph nodes. c. Recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. 2. Germ-cell cancer--progressive or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. OR
- All cancers except germ-cell cancers, with at least one of the following:
- Germ-cell cancer--progressive or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy. OR
Subsection F
Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma.
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 13.23. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 13.23 usually fail
One pitfall is using the wrong subsection for the primary site (for example, treating cervix criteria as if they were uterus corpus criteria). Another pitfall is missing the listing-required spread threshold, such as having cancer but no proof of invasion into adjoining organs, no metastases to or beyond regional lymph nodes, and no distant lymph node metastases where they are required. A third pitfall is describing treatment but not documenting persistence or recurrence following initial anticancer therapy when the subsection requires it. A fourth pitfall is for fallopian tubes and ovaries, where the listing uses specific extension language (serosa or beyond, and for ovaries the requirement for extension beyond the pelvis, peritoneal or omental or bowel surface involvement, lymph node metastases, or recurrence after initial therapy).
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Medical evidence must specify the type, extent, and site of the primary, recurrent, or metastatic lesion. For operative procedures such as biopsy or needle aspiration, a copy of both the operative note and the pathology report is generally needed; if those documents cannot be obtained, hospitalization summaries or other medical reports can be accepted, but they should include surgical findings and, when appropriate, pathological findings. In situations where the subsection depends on recurrence, persistence, or progression, evidence is also needed about recurrence, persistence or progression, response to therapy, and any significant residual effects.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the cancer does not meet the lettered criteria in 13.23 based on the required site and spread pattern, the process still evaluates the overall impairment using other steps of the disability process. In practical terms, later steps consider the residual functional capacity from the cancer and its effects after treatment, even when a specific listing match is not met. The medical-vocational factors then weigh heavily for many claimants, especially where impairments continue to limit basic work-related activities.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
At the start of an SSDI claim, substantial gainful activity is considered, and work activity can affect eligibility. For cancer under 13.23, the listing criteria focus on measurable cancer extent (such as invasion into adjoining organs, metastases to or beyond regional lymph nodes, and persistence or recurrence after initial anticancer therapy), so the functional limits that last after treatment matter for the overall evaluation if a listing match is not found quickly. Trial work period and extended period of eligibility apply after approval, following SSA rules for people who return to work, and remain relevant for ongoing impairments from the cancer described in 13.23.
Listing 13.23 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for cancers of the female genital tract -carcinoma or sarcoma (including primary peritoneal carcinoma) disability claims.