Item # Length Source of Standard Year Implemented Version Implemented Year Retired Version Retired
1,910 4 SEER

NAACCR XML: Patient.causeOfDeath

Alternate Names
   Underlying Cause of Death (SEER)
   Underlying Cause of Death (ICD Code) (pre-96 CoC)
Description

Official cause of death as coded from the death certificate in valid ICD-7, ICD-8, ICD-9, and ICD-10 codes.

Rationale

Cause of death is used for calculation of adjusted survival rates by the life table method. The adjustment corrects for deaths other than from the diagnosed cancer.

Note: This data item is no longer supported by CoC (as of January 1, 2003).

Special codes in addition to ICD-7, ICD-8, ICD-9, and ICD-10 (refer to SEER Program Code Manual for additional instructions.)

0000Patient alive at last contact
7777State death certificate not available
7797State death certificate available but underlying cause of death is not coded