On September 17, 2026, SEER posted updated standards for cases diagnosed in 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027 (https://seer.cancer.gov/cancerpathchart/products.html). CPC*Search content now reflects these standards.

Q: What is CPC*Search?

A: CPC*Search is intended for exploration of tumor site and morphology (histology and behavior) combinations and should not be used to assign codes for tumor site, histology, and behavior. Users can search tumor site-morphology combinations for diagnosis years 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027 by tumor site or International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, 3rd Edition (ICD-O-3) topography code, histology term or ICD-O-3.2 code, behavior, and/or Cancer PathCHART Validity Status standards for cancer registration.

Q: What years of diagnosis are covered in CPC*Search?

A: Currently, the tumor site-morphology combination validity standards in CPC*Search by diagnosis year are standards for coding cases diagnosed between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2027.

Q: How does the user indicate which diagnosis year standards are displayed?

A: The results are shown by diagnosis year with the current diagnosis year (2026) selected by default. If a user wants to view the search results for 2024, 2025, or 2027 diagnosis years, they can click on the corresponding year. When a year is selected, it will turn green.

Q: What should cancer registrars do if a site-morphology combination is unlikely or impossible in CPC*Search?

A: If a site-morphology combination has a CPC*Search Validity Status of unlikely, the cancer registrar should consult the medical record, applicable coding manuals and associated rules, and/or a physician. If the combination is correct, the cancer registrar may enter the code combination and confirm by manual override. Impossible combinations will require the cancer registrar to enter another site-morphology code combination for the case. If the impossible combination is correct after consulting the above-mentioned resources, the cancer registrar should submit a question to Ask a SEER Registrar and select Cancer PathCHART (CPC) under reporting guidelines as the subject.

Q: Where should cancer registrars go to explore cancer surveillance standards for hematopoietic and lymphoid morphologies?

A: Cancer registrars should refer to the SEER Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Neoplasm Database to explore hematopoietic and lymphoid morphologies.

Q: Should CPC*Search be used to find reportability standards?

A: No. Cancer PathCHART established site-morphology combination validity status standards that determine whether a combination can be coded or not once a tumor has been determined to be reportable. Cancer PathCHART validity status in CPC*Search is different from reportability, and CPC*Search should not be used as a tool to determine reportability. For reportability instructions, refer to the SEER Program Coding and Staging Manual.
Search Tool Information

Provide both Primary Site (term or code) and Histology (term or code):

Choose either

AND

OR

AND / OR

Choose either Term or Code