Time Frame Considerations in Staging

• SEER’s Extent of Disease data collection system is limited to all information available within four months of diagnosis in the absence of cancer progression or through completion of surgery(ies) in first course of treatment, whichever is longer.
• For SEER Summary Stage 2018, the stage should include all information available through completion of surgery(ies) in the first course of treatment or within four months of diagnosis in the absence of cancer progression, whichever is longer.
• The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) clinical staging is determined after the staging workup is completed and before any treatment has started.
• AJCC pathologic staging is completed after the resection of the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes, before additional treated is initiated.

Updated: March 4, 2024