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, 220 KB) (released 4/16/2012)

Rate and Prevalence Sessions

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2011 Sub, Vintage 2009 Pops (1973-2009) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • SEER 9 covers approximately 9.5% of the U.S. population (based on 2000 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 4,188,211 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+
    • Iowa - 1973+
    • New Mexico - 1973+
    • Seattle (Puget Sound) - 1974+
    • Utah - 1973+
    • Atlanta (Metropolitan) - 1975+

Incidence - SEER 13 Regs Research Data, Nov 2011 Sub, Vintage 2009 Pops (1992-2009) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • SEER 13 covers approximately 13.8% of the U.S. population (based on 2000 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 3,380,294 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 2011 Sub, Vintage 2009 Pops (2000-2009) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Largest geographic coverage available - approximately 28% of the U.S. population (based on 2000 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 4,149,255 tumors; 4,159,794 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 2011 Sub, Vintage 2009 Pops (1973-2009) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • SEER 9 covers approximately 9.5% of the U.S. population (based on 2000 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 2,287,457 tumors. 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+

Survival, Case Listing, and Frequency Sessions

Incidence - SEER 18 Regs Research Data + Hurricane Katrina Impacted Louisiana Cases, Nov 2011 Sub (1973-2009 varying)

  • Covers approximately 28% of the U.S. population (based on 2000 census)
  • Includes all available incidence research data
  • Contains one record for each 7,252,157 tumors; and 7,262,696 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+

MP-SIR Sessions

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2011 Sub, Vintage 2009 Pops (1973-2009) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Covers approximately 9.5% of the U.S. population (based on 2000 census)
  • Most years available, but smallest geographic coverage
  • Associated referent rates are available for white, black, other (AI/AN, API)
  • Contains one record for each of 4,188,211 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 2011 Sub, Vintage 2009 Pops (1992-2009) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Covers approximately 13.8% of the U.S. population (based on 2000 census)
  • Most geographic coverage available
  • 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 3,380,294 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+