STAGING CERTAINTY FACTOR

The classification of the level of certainty with which a cancer staging code is determined.

National Codes:

C1 Evidence from standard diagnostic means (e.g. inspection, palpation and standard radiography, intraluminal endoscopy for tumours of certain organs)
C2 Evidence obtained by special diagnostic means (e.g. radiographic imaging in special projections, tomography, ultrasonography, lymphography, angiography, scintigraphy, MRI, endoscopy, biopsy and cytology)
C3 Evidence from surgical exploration, including biopsy and cytology
C4 Evidence of the extent of disease following definitive surgery and pathological examination of the resected specimen
C5 Evidence from autopsy

References:
National Cancer Data Set Version 1.3_ISB October 2002 

This attribute is also known by these names:

Context Alias
plural STAGING CERTAINTY FACTORS