A Manual with Rules, Definitions, and Standard NAACCR Codes
| The new SEER Summary Staging
Manual - 2000 is a true manual (rather than just a "guide"
like the old Summary Staging Guide - 1977). The SEER Summary
Staging Manual - 2000 |
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contains instructions, definitions,
and detailed descriptions. The new manual also contains
the actual standard NAACCR stage codes.
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ICD-O-2/3 Site Codes
The new SEER Summary Staging Manual - 2000 contains the site
codes that are listed in ICD-O-2 (and subsequently, ICD-O-3,
because there were no site code changes in ICD-O-3). This should
help in locating the correct scheme within the manual. For example,
to stage a carcinoma of the nasopharynx , NOS (site code = C11.9
in ICD-O-2/3), one would need to know that the numbers "470-473,
478-479" that are found at the top of the Nasopharynx scheme
pages of the Summary Staging Guide - 1977 (SSG77) are actually
old ICD-O-1 site codes with the leading '1' removed and the
subsite decimal point removed. Now, with the new SEER Summary
Staging Manual - 2000, users simply look up the site code (with
the nasopharynx, NOS example, the site code = C11.9) in ICD-O-2/3
and then use that site code to find the scheme directly in the
SEER Summary Staging Manual - 2000. Of course, users could also
choose to use the Table Of Contents in the front of the SEER
Summary Staging Manual - 2000.
A Scheme for Every Primary Site
Every primary site now has a scheme in SEER Summary Staging
Manual - 2000. This alone is a MAJOR improvement over the old
SSG77. It was often frustrating, not to mention difficult, to
stage a cancer case arising in a primary site for which there
was no scheme in SSG77. Users should have used the "non-specific
staging scheme" found on page 2 of the SSG77 - however, it is
well known that this was not a routine and uniform practice.
Those days are behind us now because each and every primary
site has a scheme in the new SEER Summary Staging Manual - 2000.
European Eponymic Standard
The word 'eponym' means 'to name upon.' So, for instance, Dr.
Ewing was the first person to describe the bone tumor that is
now known as "Ewing's sarcoma" - that "Ewing's sarcoma"
is an eponymic term. It is literally 'named upon Dr. Ewing.'
The same holds true for Paget's disease, Waldeyer's ring, Hodkin's
lymphoma, etc. The European standard for eponyms (the 'European
Eponymic Standard') is to drop the apostrophe 's' ('s). Since
the international ICD-O-3 committee decided to adopt the European
Eponymic Standard, the sites (and morphologies) listed in ICD-O-3
do not include the apostrophe 's' if they are eponymic terms.
The same European Eponymic Standard was adopted in the new SEER
Summary Staging Manual - 2000.
Detailed Instructions and Illustrations
Again, another major enhancement to the manual is the inclusion
of detailed instructions. Further, detailed pertinent anatomical
illustrations have also been included. Both the detailed instructions
and the detailed pertinent illustrations should make summary
staging an easier and more pleasant experience.
New "Time Rule"
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There is a new "time rule" to
be used when staging with the SEER Summary Staging Manual
2000.
The new "time rule" is: |
Summary 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 disease
progression, whichever is longer.
Note that the new "time rule" is really a "time
and information" rule rather than just a "time"
rule, per se.
This new "time rule" differs from the "two
month rule" used in SSG77. This change alone will not
allow time trend analyses on stage prior to 2001 diagnoses
and those diagnosed on or after January 1, 2001.
For Use: Starting with 2001 Diagnoses
It should be noted that the new SEER Summary Staging Manual
- 2000 is for use with cancer cases diagnosed on January 1,
2001 and forward. The SEER Summary Staging Manual - 2000 carries
the "2000" in its name because the manual was largely created
in the year 2000. Do not use the SEER Summary Staging Manual
- 2000 to stage cases unless they were diagnosed on, or after,
January 1, 2001.
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