Cause of Death(ICD)

E

This is the official underlying cause of death coded from the death certificate using ICD-7, ICDA-8, ICD-9, or ICD-10 codes. This data item is populated by the central registry.

Coding Instructions for ICD-10

1. Ignore (do not record) decimal points when copying codes

2. The cause of death code is commonly four characters. Ignore (do not code) a fifth character if present.

3. Left justify the codes; if less than four characters, leave the fourth character blank
   Note: This is a change from previous instructions.

4. If the underlying cause of death code is not available, do not attempt to code the underlying cause of death unless you have a trained ICD-10 nosologist on staff or on consult
   Priority Order for use of source documents to assign codes, with 1 having the highest priority.

5. Use the underlying cause of death as coded by a state health department even if the code seems to be in error

6. Report the coded underlying cause of death code from another source such as NDI Plus or state data exchange

7. Code the underlying cause of death if a trained ICD-10 nosologist is on staff or under contract

8. Code the underlying cause of death as 7797 when the death certificate is available, but the underlying cause of death code is not coded and cause of death is not available from another source such as NDI Plus or state data exchange

9. Code 7777 when the death certificate is not available AND the coded underlying cause of death is not available from other sources such as NDI or state data exchange
   Example: Medical doctor states patient died, but death certificate not available (not on state death file, not available through federal or state agencies); code 7777.
   Beginning with deaths in 1999, the United States agreed to code all deaths using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The ICD-10 codes have up to four characters: a letter followed by 2 or 3 digits.

If the patient has multiple records, the underlying cause of death must be identical on each record.

[SEER Program Coding and Staging Manual 2026, Page 265-266]