Cancer Registry Data Collection Flashcards

Under HIPAA, cancer registries may report data to public health authorities (including state cancer registries) without patient authorization because such reporting is classified as:

Answer: Public health activity

HIPAA permits disclosure of PHI to public health authorities for disease surveillance and reporting without individual authorization under the public health activity exception.

Which follow-up method is considered the most efficient for updating vital status in large cancer registry databases?

Answer: Linkage with death certificate files or NDI

Linkage with the National Death Index (NDI) or state death certificate files allows bulk vital status updates far more efficiently than individual outreach.

A cancer registry receives a pathology report indicating 'carcinoma in situ of the cervix uteri.' What ICD-O-3 behavior code applies?

Answer: /2

Behavior code /2 in ICD-O-3 denotes carcinoma in situ — a non-invasive malignancy confined to the epithelium without invasion.

What is the primary purpose of the NAACCR data exchange standard in cancer registry operations?

Answer: To provide a uniform record layout for electronic data transmission between registries

The NAACCR (North American Association of Central Cancer Registries) standard defines a uniform flat-file record layout enabling consistent electronic data exchange among central and hospital registries.

When two separate primary tumors arise in the same organ at the same time, the registry ruleset used to determine whether they are counted as one case or two is found in which reference?

Answer: SEER Multiple Primary and Histology Coding Rules

The SEER Multiple Primary and Histology (MP/H) Coding Rules provide the standardized logic for determining when simultaneous tumors in the same site constitute one or multiple primary cases.

Which data item records the specific geographic location of the original tumor within the organ?

Answer: Topography code

The topography code (from ICD-O-3) specifies the site — including the subsite within the organ — where the primary tumor originated.

A registry quality control coordinator finds that 8% of abstracted cases have an incorrect primary site code. This metric is best described as a measure of:

Answer: Accuracy

Accuracy (or validity) measures how correctly data elements are coded compared to the source document; an error rate in coded fields directly reflects data accuracy.