CTR Cancer Registry Data Collection 3

Question 1

Which date is used as the 'date of diagnosis' when a biopsy and a subsequent surgical resection both confirm malignancy?

Accepted Answer

Date of the biopsy confirming malignancy

Answer

The date of diagnosis is the earliest date on which a definitive diagnosis of cancer was established, typically the biopsy date.

Question 2

A physician documents 'metastatic adenocarcinoma, consistent with colonic primary' in the record. How should the registrar code the primary site?

Accepted Answer

Code primary site as colon based on physician statement

Answer

Registrars follow physician statements of primary site even when expressed as 'consistent with,' per FORDS/STORE coding rules.

Question 3

What is the standard accession number format used by most hospital cancer registries?

Accepted Answer

Year of diagnosis followed by sequential case number

Answer

The standard accession number uses the four-digit year of diagnosis plus a sequential number (e.g., 20230001).

Question 4

Which coding system is used to classify the primary site of cancer in the tumor registry abstract?

Accepted Answer

ICD-O-3 topography codes

Answer

ICD-O-3 topography codes (C00-C80) are used to specify the anatomic site of origin of the primary tumor.

Question 5

A tumor registrar discovers a case was abstracted with an incorrect primary site two years ago. What is the correct action?

Accepted Answer

Amend the original abstract with a correction and document the change

Answer

Erroneous abstracts should be corrected via amendment with documentation of the change to maintain data integrity.

(CTR) Certified Tumor Registrar Practice Test