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 (XLSX, 30 KB) - or PDF (PDF, 179 KB)

Rate and Prevalence Sessions

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973-2015) <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 5,094,238 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 2017 Sub (1992-2015) <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 4,714,757 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 2017 Sub (2000-2015) <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 7,070,314 tumors; 7,080,885 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 2017 Sub (1973-2015) <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 3,285,801 tumors from 2,823,274 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 2017 Sub (1992-2015) <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 2,481,106 tumors from 2,151,094 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 2017 Sub (2000-2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Largest geographic coverage available - approximately 26.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • 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.
  • 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 2,987,057 tumors from 2,642,061 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 and Left-Truncated Life Table Sessions

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973-2015) <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
  • Contains one record for each of 5,094,238 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 2017 Sub (1992-2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • SEER 13 covers approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Contains one record for each of 4,714,757 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 18 Regs Research Data + Hurricane Katrina Impacted Louisiana Cases, Nov 2017 Sub (2000-2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Largest geographic coverage available - approximately 27.8% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Includes adjustments for areas impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita
  • Contains one record for each of 7,070,314 tumors; 7,080,885 records with the Louisiana July-December 2005 cases

  • 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+

Case Listing and Frequency Sessions

Incidence - SEER 18 Regs Research Data + Hurricane Katrina Impacted Louisiana Cases, Nov 2017 Sub (1973-2015 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 10,040,243 tumors; and 10,050,814 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 2017 Sub (1975-2015) <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
  • Delay-adjusted rates are available for all races combined, white, black
  • Contains one record for each of 4,557,632 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) collapsed into one grouping

    • SEER 9 (SF/Oak, CT, Det, HI, IA, NM, Sea, UT, Atl)

Incidence - SEER 13 Regs Research Data with Delay Adjustment, Malignant Only, Nov 2017 Sub (1992-2015) <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)

  • Race and ethnicity groupings available

    • All Races
    • White
    • Black
    • Asian/Pacific Islander
    • CHSDA/AIAN
    • Hispanic (Excl Alaska Native Tumor Registry)
    • Non-Hispanic (Excl Alaska Native Tumor Registry)
    • Non-Hispanic White
    • Non-Hispanic Black
    • White Hispanic
    • Black Hispanic
  • Contains one record for each of 4,232,981 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) collapsed into two groupings

    • SEER 9 (SF/Oak, CT, Det, HI, IA, NM, Sea, UT, Atl)
    • 1992 expansion (SJ/Mont, LOS, AK Natives, Rural GA)

Incidence - SEER 18 Regs Research Data with Delay Adjustment, Malignant Only, Nov 2017 Sub (2000-2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Allows the calculation of delay-adjusted statistics for all sites combined and several individual cancer sites
  • SEER 18 covers approximately 27.8% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Largest geographic coverage for delay-adjusted statistics

  • Race and ethnicity groupings available

    • All Races
    • White
    • Black
    • Asian/Pacific Islander
    • CHSDA/AIAN
    • Hispanic (Excl Alaska Native Tumor Registry)
    • Non-Hispanic (Excl Alaska Native Tumor Registry)
    • Non-Hispanic White
    • Non-Hispanic Black
    • White Hispanic
    • Black Hispanic
  • Contains one record for each of 6,258,942 tumors; 6,268,572 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) collapsed into three groupings

    • SEER 9 (SF/Oak, CT, Det, HI, IA, NM, Sea, UT, Atl)
    • 1992 expansion (SJ/Mont, LOS, AK Natives, Rural GA)
    • 2000 expansion (GR CA, KY, LA, NJ, GR GA)

MP-SIR/SMR Sessions

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973-2015) <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 5,094,238 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 excluding AK Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1992-2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Covers approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • 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 4,705,620 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 18 Regs excluding AK Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (2000-2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>

  • Largest geographic coverage available - approximately 27.8% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • 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 7,073,956 tumors
  • All cases from Louisiana are included this database

  • 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+
    • Rural Georgia - 2000+
    • California excluding SF/SJM/LA - 2000+
    • Kentucky - 2000+
    • Louisiana - 2000+
    • New Jersey - 2000+
    • Greater Georgia - 2000+

Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973-2015) 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 5,094,238 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 excluding AK Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1992-2015) for SMRs

  • Covers approximately 13.4% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Associated referent rates are for mortality
  • Associated referent rates are available for white, black, other (AI/AN, API)
  • Contains one record for each of 4,705,620 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 18 Regs excluding AK Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (2000-2015) for SMRs

  • Largest geographic coverage available - approximately 27.8% of the U.S. population (based on 2010 census)
  • Associated referent rates are for mortality
  • Associated referent rates are available for white, black, other (AI/AN, API)
  • Contains one record for each of 7,073,956 tumors
  • All cases from Louisiana are included in this database

  • 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+
    • Rural Georgia - 2000+
    • California excluding SF/SJM/LA - 2000+
    • Kentucky - 2000+
    • Louisiana - 2000+
    • New Jersey - 2000+
    • Greater Georgia - 2000+