Details of each database available in SEER*Stat are provided to help you understand the differences between databases. We also provide a database dictionary to describe all the variables in the SEER research data with links to additional documentation, when available.

Dictionary of SEER*Stat Variables

The dictionary lists all the variables in the SEER*Stat databases with the following information: field number, NAACCR item number, description and definitions, and category name where it can be found in SEER*Stat.

The dictionary is available in two formats: Excel (XLS, 95 KB) - or PDF (PDF, 218 KB)

Rate and Prevalence Sessions

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2014 Sub (1973-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • SEER 9 covers approximately 9.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Most years available, but smallest geographic coverage
  • Rates/prevalence proportions are available for white, black, other (AI/AN, API)
  • Contains one record for each of 4,693,327 tumors
  • Two age variables are available: 19 age groups (< 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, ..., 85+ years) and single ages with 85+
  • Different years of diagnosis are included for different registries (SEER generally excludes 1973 and 1974 from analyses for consistent (coverage)

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1973+
    • Connecticut - 1973+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1973+
    • Hawaii - 1973+
    • New Mexico - 1973+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1974+
    • Utah - 1973+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1975+

Incidence - SEER 13 Regs Research Data, Nov 2014 Sub (1992-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • SEER 13 covers approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Most years available for expanded race/ethnicity rates/prevalence proportions
  • Rates/prevalence proportions are available by expanded race (white, black, AI/AN, and API) and Hispanic ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic)
  • Contains one record for each of 4,057,213 tumors
  • Two age variables are available: 19 age groups (< 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, ..., 85+ years) and single ages with 85+

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1992+
    • Connecticut - 1992+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • Hawaii - 1992+
    • Iowa - 1992+
    • New Mexico - 1992+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1992+
    • Utah - 1992+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • San Jose-Monterey - 1992+
    • Los Angeles - 1992+
    • Alaska Natives - 1992+
    • Rural Georgia - 1992+

Incidence - SEER 18 Regs Research Data + Hurricane Katrina Impacted Louisiana Cases, Nov 2014 Sub (2000-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Largest geographic coverage available - approximately 27.8% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Rates/prevalence proportions are available by expanded race (white, black, AI/AN, and API) and Hispanic ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic)
  • Includes adjustments for areas impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

    For rate sessions, July-Dec 2005 Louisiana cases are considered supplemental data and are excluded by default (by the Cases in Research Database checkbox)

    For prevalence sessions, all Louisiana cases are considered supplemental data and are excluded by default (by the Cases in Research Database checkbox)

  • Contains one record for each of 5,575,213 tumors; 5,585,765 records with the Louisiana July-December 2005 cases
  • Two age variables are available: 19 age groups (< 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, ..., 85+ years) and single ages with 85+

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 2000+
    • Connecticut - 2000+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 2000+
    • Hawaii - 2000+
    • Iowa - 2000+
    • New Mexico - 2000+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 2000+
    • Utah - 2000+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 2000+
    • San Jose-Monterey - 2000+
    • Los Angeles - 2000+
    • Alaska Natives - 2000+
    • Rural Georgia - 2000+
    • California excluding SF/SJM/LA - 2000+
    • Kentucky - 2000+
    • Louisiana - 2000+
    • New Jersey - 2000+
    • Greater Georgia - 2000+

Incidence-Based Mortality - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2014 Sub (1973-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • SEER 9 covers approximately 9.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Available only in rate session
  • Used for very specialized analyses, for details refer to Incidence-Based Mortality
  • Rates/prevalence proportions are available for white, black, other (AI/AN, API)
  • Contains one record for each of 2,954,647 tumors from 2,555,348 individuals. Only patients who have died by the study cut-off date are included in this database.
  • Two age variables are available: 19 age groups (< 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, ..., 85+ years) and single ages with 85+
  • Different years of diagnosis are included for different registries (SEER generally excludes 1973 and 1974 from analyses for consistent coverage):

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1973+
    • Connecticut - 1973+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1973+
    • Hawaii - 1973+
    • Iowa - 1973+
    • New Mexico - 1973+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1974+
    • Utah - 1973+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1975+

Incidence-Based Mortality - SEER 13 Regs Research Data, Nov 2014 Sub (1992-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • SEER 13 covers approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Available only in rate session
  • Used for very specialized analyses, for details refer to Incidence-Based Mortality
  • Rates/prevalence proportions are available by expanded race (white, black, AI/AN, and API) and Hispanic ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic)
  • Contains one record for each of 2,053,791 tumors from 1,800,829 individuals. Only patients who have died by the study cut-off date are included in this database.
  • Two age variables are available: 19 age groups (< 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, ..., 85+ years) and single ages with 85+

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1992+
    • Connecticut - 1992+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • Hawaii - 1992+
    • Iowa - 1992+
    • New Mexico - 1992+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1992+
    • Utah - 1992+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • San Jose-Monterey - 1992+
    • Los Angeles - 1992+
    • Alaska Natives - 1992+
    • Rural Georgia - 1992+

Incidence-Based Mortality - SEER 18 Regs (Excl Louisiana) Research Data, Nov 2014 Sub (2000-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Largest geographic coverage available - approximately 26.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Available only in rate session
  • Used for very specialized analyses, for details refer to Incidence-Based Mortality
  • Rates/prevalence proportions are available by expanded race (white, black, AI/AN, and API) and Hispanic ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic)
  • All cases from Louisiana are excluded from this database. The low case counts for July - December 2005 due to the impact by hurricanes Katrina and Rita impact the incidence-based mortality rates for future years.
  • Contains one record for each of 2,219,729 tumors from 1,995,582 individuals. Only patients who have died by the study cut-off date are included in this database.
  • Two age variables are available: 19 age groups (< 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, ..., 85+ years) and single ages with 85+

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 2000+
    • Connecticut - 2000+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 2000+
    • Hawaii - 2000+
    • Iowa - 2000+
    • New Mexico - 2000+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 2000+
    • Utah - 2000+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 2000+
    • San Jose-Monterey - 2000+
    • Los Angeles - 2000+
    • Alaska Natives - 2000+
    • Rural Georgia - 2000+
    • California excluding SF/SJM/LA - 2000+
    • Kentucky - 2000+
    • New Jersey - 2000+
    • Greater Georgia - 2000+

Survival, Case Listing, and Frequency Sessions

Incidence - SEER 18 Regs Research Data + Hurricane Katrina Impacted Louisiana Cases, Nov 2014 Sub (1973-2012 varying)

  • Covers approximately 27.8% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Includes all available incidence research data
  • Contains one record for each 8,679,219 tumors; and 8,689,771 tumors with the Louisiana July-December 2005 cases
  • Different years of diagnosis are included for different registries

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1973+
    • Connecticut - 1973+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1973+
    • Hawaii - 1973+
    • Iowa - 1973+
    • New Mexico - 1973+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1974+
    • Utah - 1973+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1975+
    • San Jose-Monterey - 1992+
    • Los Angeles - 1992+
    • Alaska Natives - 1992+
    • Rural Georgia - 1992+
    • California excluding SF/SJM/LA - 2000+
    • Kentucky - 2000+
    • Louisiana - 2000+
    • New Jersey - 2000+
    • Greater Georgia - 2000+

Delay Adjustment Databases

Rate Session Only

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data with Delay Adjustment, Malignant Only, Nov 2014 Sub (1975-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Allows the calculation of delay-adjusted statistics for all sites combined and several individual cancer sites
  • SEER 9 covers approximately 9.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Most years available, but smallest geographic coverage
  • Rates are available for white, black, other (AI/AN, API)
  • Delay-adjusted rates are available for all races combined, white, black
  • Contains one record for each of 4,112,331 tumors
  • Two age variables are available: 19 age groups (< 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, ..., 85+ years) and single ages with 85+
  • Includes only malignant behavior

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered (collapsed into one grouping):

    SEER 9 (SF/Oak, CT, Det, HI, IA, NM, Sea, UT, Atl)
    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1973+
    • Connecticut - 1973+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1973+
    • Hawaii - 1973+
    • Iowa - 1973+
    • New Mexico - 1973+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1974+
    • Utah - 1973+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1975+

Incidence - SEER 13 Regs Research Data with Delay Adjustment, Malignant Only, Nov 2014 Sub (1992-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Allows the calculation of delay-adjusted statistics for all sites combined and several individual cancer sites
  • SEER 13 covers approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Largest geographic coverage for delay-adjusted statistics
  • Rates are available by expanded race (white, black, AI/AN, and API) and Hispanic ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic)
  • Delay-adjusted rates are available for all races combined, white, black
  • Contains one record for each of 3,633,057 tumors
  • Two age variables are available: 19 age groups (< 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, ..., 85+ years) and single ages with 85+
  • Includes only malignant behavior

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered (collapsed into two groupings):

    SEER 9 (SF/Oak, CT, Det, HI, IA, NM, Sea, UT, Atl)
    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1992+
    • Connecticut - 1992+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • Hawaii - 1992+
    • Iowa - 1992+
    • New Mexico - 1992+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1992+
    • Utah - 1992+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    1992 expansion (SJ/Mont, LOS, AK Natives, Rural GA)
    • San Jose-Monterey - 1992+
    • Los Angeles - 1992+
    • Alaska Natives - 1992+
    • Rural Georgia - 1992+

Incidence - SEER 18 Regs Research Data with Delay Adjustment, Malignant Only, Nov 2014 Sub (2000-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Allows the calculation of delay-adjusted statistics for all sites combined and several individual cancer sites
  • SEER 18 covers approximately 26.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Largest geographic coverage for delay-adjusted statistics
  • Rates are available by expanded race (white, black, AI/AN, and API) and Hispanic ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic)
  • Delay-adjusted rates are available for all races combined, white, black
  • Contains one record for each of 4,973,917 tumors; 4,983,533 records with the Louisiana July-December 2005 cases
  • Two age variables are available: 19 age groups (< 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, ..., 85+ years) and single ages with 85+
  • Includes only malignant behavior

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered (collapsed into three groupings):

    SEER 9 (SF/Oak, CT, Det, HI, IA, NM, Sea, UT, Atl)
    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1992+
    • Connecticut - 1992+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • Hawaii - 1992+
    • Iowa - 1992+
    • New Mexico - 1992+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1992+
    • Utah - 1992+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    1992 expansion (SJ/Mont, LOS, AK Natives, Rural GA)
    • San Jose-Monterey - 1992+
    • Los Angeles - 1992+
    • Alaska Natives - 1992+
    • Rural Georgia - 1992+
    2000 expansion (GR CA, KY, LA, NJ, GR GA)
    • California excluding SF/SJM/LA - 2000+
    • Kentucky - 2000+
    • Louisiana - 2000+
    • New Jersey - 2000+
    • Greater Georgia - 2000+

MP-SIR/SMR Sessions

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2014 Sub (1973-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Covers approximately 9.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Most years available, but smallest geographic coverage
  • Associated referent rates are for subsequent primary cancer diagnoses
  • Associated referent rates are available for white, black, other (AI/AN, API)
  • Contains one record for each of 4,693,327 tumors
  • Different years of diagnosis are included for different registries (SEER generally excludes 1973 and 1974 from analyses for consistent coverage):

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1973+
    • Connecticut - 1973+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1973+
    • Hawaii - 1973+
    • Iowa - 1973+
    • New Mexico - 1973+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1974+
    • Utah - 1973+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1975+

Incidence - SEER 13 Regs Research Data, Nov 2014 Sub (1992-2012) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Covers approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Most geographic coverage available
  • Associated referent rates are for subsequent primary cancer diagnoses
  • Associated referent rates are available by expanded race (white, black, AI/AN, and API) and Hispanic ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic)
  • Contains one record for each of 4,057,213 tumors

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1992+
    • Connecticut - 1992+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • Hawaii - 1992+
    • Iowa - 1992+
    • New Mexico - 1992+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1992+
    • Utah - 1992+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • San Jose-Monterey - 1992+
    • Los Angeles - 1992+
    • Alaska Natives - 1992+
    • Rural Georgia - 1992+

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2014 Sub (1973-2012) for SMRs

  • Covers approximately 9.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Most years available, but smallest geographic coverage
  • Associated referent rates are for mortality
  • Associated referent rates are available for white, black, other (AI/AN, API)
  • Contains one record for each of 4,693,327 tumors
  • Different years of diagnosis are included for different registries (SEER generally excludes 1973 and 1974 from analyses for consistent coverage):

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1973+
    • Connecticut - 1973+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1973+
    • Hawaii - 1973+
    • Iowa - 1973+
    • New Mexico - 1973+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1974+
    • Utah - 1973+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1975+

Incidence - SEER 13 Regs Research Data, Nov 2014 Sub (1992-2012) for SMRs

  • Covers approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Most geographic coverage available
  • Associated referent rates are for mortality
  • Associated referent rates are available by expanded race (white, black, AI/AN, and API) and Hispanic ethnicity (Hispanic and non-Hispanic)
  • Contains one record for each of 4,057,213 tumors

  • Geographic areas (registries) and years covered:

    • San Francisco-Oakland SMSA - 1992+
    • Connecticut - 1992+
    • Detroit (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • Hawaii - 1992+
    • Iowa - 1992+
    • New Mexico - 1992+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1992+
    • Utah - 1992+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1992+
    • San Jose-Monterey - 1992+
    • Los Angeles - 1992+
    • Alaska Natives - 1992+
    • Rural Georgia - 1992+