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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 04/02/2026 11:12 PM
Question 20180109
Inquiry Details
References:
#1: 2018 SEER Manual. See final version of the manual when posted
#2: 2022 SEER Manual, 10, 84
Question:
Date of diagnosis/Ambiguous terminology--Cervix Uteri: Is the date of diagnosis of a cervical pap smear done in December 2017, that states high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion with features suspicious for invasion, followed by a cervical biopsy in 2018 positive for squamous cell carcinoma, in 2017? Is the ambiguous term used in the cytology in 2017 (suspicious for invasion) to determine diagnosis as the SEER manual states to use the ambiguous cytology as the date of diagnosis if confirmed later.
Discussion:
Answer:
Updated for cases diagnosed 2022 or later
For cases diagnosed in 2022 or later, see the instructions in the SEER manual under Reportability and Date of Diagnosis for ambiguous cytology.
History:
For cases diagnosed prior to 2022
Based on the information provided, this is a 2018 diagnosis. SEER has been asked to postpone implementing the instruction about using the date of the ambiguous cytology until 2019 or later. We will be removing that instruction from the draft 2018 SEER manual when it is finalized.
