Site Specific Surgery (1973-1997 varying detail by year and site)

This field specifies information on surgery during first course of therapy whether it was cancer-directed or not. (Prior to 1988 SEER did not collect information on surgical procedures if not cancer-directed.) The Reason for No Cancer-directed Surgery field must be used to distinguish among no cancer-directed surgery performed; cancer-directed surgery recommended, unknown if performed; and unknown if cancer-directed surgery performed.

For Cases Diagnosed 1973-82

All cases were coded using the following nonspecific scheme:

¹ Code '09' must be used in conjunction with Reason for No Cancer-directed Surgery to distinguish "No cancer directed surgery" from "Unknown if cancer-directed surgery performed" and "Cancer-directed surgery recommended but unknown if given."  Code ‘00’ is only used for cases diagnosed only at autopsy.

For Cases Diagnosed 1983-87

Detailed schemes were in place for the following sites:

All other sites are coded to the same nonspecific scheme used for 1973-82 cases (above).

For Cases Diagnosed 1988-1997

In addition to the above sites, detailed schemes for the following sites were put into place:

A general scheme was used for all other sites.

The actual coding schemes for individual sites and time periods can be viewed at 2-Digit Site-Specific Surgery Codes (1983-1997) (PDF).