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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 12/24/2025 9:10 PM
Question 20000474
Inquiry Details
References:
#1: SEER Program Code Man, 3rd Ed, 88
#2: 2004 SEER Manual, 66
Question:
Date of Diagnosis: If a clinician states his current diagnosis of malignancy is based on a CT scan done at an early date that contained a diagnosis of only "neoplasm" or "worrisome for carcinoma" should the date of diagnosis be the date of the scan?
Discussion:
Answer:
Yes. Code the Date of Diagnosis field to the date of the scan. The physician's clinical impression upon reviewing the earlier scan, is that the malignancy was confirmed by the scan. If there is a medical review of a previous scan that indicates the patient had a malignancy at an earlier date, then the earlier date is the date of diagnosis, i.e., the date is back-dated.
Cancer Site Category:
N/A
Data Item Category:
Date of diagnosis
Other Category:
N/A
Year:
2000
