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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 02/16/2026 1:23 PM
Question 20100012
Inquiry Details
References:
2007 SEER Manual, 61-64
Question:
Date of diagnosis--Breast: How is the date of diagnosis coded when a mammogram describes only "suspicious calcifications" with a BIRADS category of 4 assigned and the suspicious calcifications are subsequently proven to be malignant on biopsy? See Discussion.
Discussion:
The date of diagnosis is the date when cancer was first diagnosed by a recognized medical practitioner, whether clinically or microscopically confirmed. Ambiguous terminology used to determine reportability is listed in part I of FORDS pages 3-4. No BIRADS categories are included and, therefore, should not be used by the registrar to determine the earliest date of diagnosis. In addition, the term "suspicious for calcification" is not reportable, because calcification is benign condition, unless the physician describes it as malignant. Reference 46637, 12/29/2009 FORDS - In the last paragraph there is a statement that no BIRAD categories are listed...cannot be used to determine earliest date of diagnosis. Does the SEER Program follow this guideline?
Answer:
The date of diagnosis for this case is the date of the biopsy. There is no reportable diagnosis on the mammogram.
Cancer Site Category:
Breast
Data Item Category:
Date of diagnosis
Other Category:
N/A
Year:
2010
