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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 03/12/2026 8:09 PM
Question 20061049
Inquiry Details
References:
2004 SEER Manual, 3-4
Question:
Date of Diagnosis/Ambiguous Terminology--Lung: Would the date of a PET scan that states there is a mass in the lung which is "in the range of malignancy " be coded as the date of diagnosis or would the date of a subsequent bronchoscopy with biopsy be used for diagnosis date because it confirms a malignancy?
Discussion:
Answer:
The date of diagnosis in this case is the date of the bronchoscopy with biopsy.
"In the range of malignancy" is not one of the ambiguous terms that are reportable. Please see the list of reportable ambiguous terms on page 3 of the 2004 SEER manual. Do not accession cases based on ambiguous terms not found on the reportable list.
Cancer Site Category:
Lung
Data Item Category:
Date of diagnosis
Other Category:
Ambiguous terminology
Year:
2006
