The tumor site, histology, and behavior combination validity standards for cancer surveillance featured in CPC*Search are based on criteria established by Cancer PathCHART for cases diagnosed January 1, 2024, and forward. These criteria determine whether cancer registrars can assign codes for a given tumor site, histology, and behavior combination.

What is the CPC*Search?

CPC*Search is an interactive webtool that allows cancer registrars and other users to search the 2024 Cancer PathCHART ICD-O-3 Site Morphology Validation List (CPC*SMVL) validity standards by tumor site, histology, and behavior terms and associated codes.

Search results include the expert pathologist-assigned CPC Validity Status of tumor morphology (histology and behavior) by site and organ system, which indicates if specific tumor site-morphology combinations are biologically valid, impossible, or unlikely.

Validity Status Site-Type Edit Errors Coding in Cancer Registry Database
Valid Will not generate edit errors Can be coded
Impossible Will generate an edit error Cannot be coded
Unlikely* Will generate an edit error Requires manual override or correction to site and/or morphology to be coded

* Unlikely tumor site-morphology combinations are included in CPC*Search but were not included in the 2024 Cancer PathCHART ICD-O-3 Site Morphology Validation List (CPC*SMVL).

The CPC Validity Status was derived from an interdisciplinary review by subspecialty matter expert pathologists, registrars, and a biostatistician. Sites with updated standards for 2024 are listed in the table below.

Primary Sites Reviewed for 2024 Implementation

Organ System Primary Sites Reviewed for 2024 Implementation
Bone & Soft Tissue
  • Bones & Joints
  • Connective, Subcutaneous & Other Soft Tissue
Breast
  • Breast
Digestive
  • Ampulla of Vater
  • Anus
  • Appendix
  • Biliary System
  • Colon & Rectum
  • Esophagus
  • Gallbladder
  • Liver
  • Pancreas
  • Small Intestine
  • Stomach
Female Genital
  • Cervix
  • Endometrium
  • Fallopian Tube
  • Myometrium
  • Ovary
  • Placenta
  • Vagina; Vulva, Adnexa & Other Female Genital
Male Genital
  • Penis
  • Prostate
  • Testis*
Urinary
  • Kidney*

* For these primary sites, a subset of site-morphology combinations were reviewed for 2024 implementation. The remaining combinations will be reviewed for implementation with cases diagnosed 2025 and forward.

For tumor sites not listed in the table above, validity status was assigned to site-morphology combinations using existing 2023 standards as follows.

2024 Standard Used for Primary Sites Not Yet Reviewed 2024 Validity Status
2023 ICD-O-3 SEER Site/Histology Validation List Valid
2023 Primary Site, Morphology-Imposs ICDO3 (SEER IF38) Impossible
Combinations not included in 2023 Valid or Impossible standards listed above Unlikely

Additional information about the 2024 Cancer PathCHART ICD-O-3 Site Morphology Validation List (CPC*SMVL) can be found on the Cancer PathCHART Product Downloads and Timelines web page.

For determining multiple primaries and/or histology, cancer registrars should refer to the 2024 SEER Solid Tumor Rules or the Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Neoplasm Database.

Cancer registrars should use CPC*Search as a reference to validate site and morphology code combinations assigned for cases diagnosed January 1, 2024, and forward.

CPC*Search Tool

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Visit the CPC*Search to search the 2024 Cancer PathCHART ICD-O-3 Site Morphology Validation List (CPC*SMVL).

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