Alternate Name	Item#	Length	Source of Standard	Column #
Pathologic Stage (Prefix/Suffix) Descriptor (CoC)	920	1	CoC	956-956

Description
Identified the AJCC pathologic stage (prefix/suffix) descriptor as recorded by the physician. AJCC stage descriptors identify special cases that need separate data analysis. The descriptors are adjuncts to and do not change the stage group.

Pathologic and clinical stage data are given three separate areas in the NAACCR Data Exchange Record Layout. CoC defines a descriptor and "Staged By" item for each of these three areas.

Rationale
CoC requires that AJCC TNM staging be used in its approved cancer programs. AJCC developed its staging system for evaluating trends in the treatment and control of cancer. This staging is used by physicians to estimate prognosis, to plan treatment, to evaluate new types of therapy, to analyze outcome, to design follow-up strategies, and to assess early detection results.

Codes

0	None
1	E (Extranodal, lymphomas only)
2	S (Spleen, lymphomas only)
3	M (Multiple primary tumors in a single site)
4	Y (Classification during or after initial multimodality therapy)-pathologic staging only
5	E & S (Extranodal and spleen, lymphomas only)
6	M & Y (Multiple primary tumors and initial multimodality therapy)
9	Unknown, not stated in patient record