The SEER Program strives to make all L/R/D stage variables consistent for all cancer sites for the appropriate years.  However, there are certain site/year combinations where this is not possible.  The following table details changes imposed on the stage variables by the SEER Program.

Note: Mesothelioma is not mutually exclusive from the other listed sites. For example, a 1987 mesothelioma diagnosed in the lung would be blank for SEER Historic stage A based on the lung row in this table. And similarly, a 2005 mesothelioma in the lung would be blank based on the mesothelioma row.

Site SEER Historic Stage A SEER Summary Stage 1977 (1995-2000) SEER Summary Stage 2000 (2001-2003)
Peritoneum, Omentum and Mesentary 1973-1987 all cases are blank    
Nose, Nasal Cavity and Middle Ear 1973-1982 all cases are blank    
Larynx 2004-2005 all cases are blank    
Lung and Bronchus 1973-1987 all cases are blank    
Pleura 1973-2005 all cases are unstaged    
Trachea 2004-2005 all cases are blank    
Vagina 2004-2005 all cases are blank    
Prostate 1973-1994 all cases are blank
1995-2005 all localized and regional cases coded as “Localized/regional (Prostate cases)”
All localized and regional cases codes as “Localized/regional (Prostate cases)” All localized and regional cases coded as “Localized/regional (Prostate cases)”
Bladder 1973-2004 all cases originally staged as in situ are converted to localized 1995-2000 all cases originally staged as in situ are converted to localized  
Brain and Other Nervous System 1973-2005 all cases are unstaged    
Hodgkins Lymphoma 1973-2005 all cases are unstaged    
NHL 1973-2005 all cases are unstaged    
Myeloma 1973-2005 all cases are distant    
Mesothelioma 2004-2005 all cases are blank    
Miscellaneous 1973-2005 all cases are unstaged    

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