Time Frames Considerations in Staging

The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Extent of Disease coding is limited to all information available within four months of diagnosis in the absence of disease progression or through completion of surgery(ies) in first course of treatment, whichever is longer.

For SEER Summary Stage 2000, 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 disease 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. There is no predetermined time limit for assigning AJCC clinical or pathological stage.