EC Cancer Registry Data Collection 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization publishes the STORE manual used as the standard reference for cancer registry data collection in the U.S.?
- American Cancer Society
- Commission on Cancer (CoC) (Correct answer)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Institutes of Health
Correct answer: Commission on Cancer (CoC)
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) publishes the STORE (Standards for Oncology Registry Entry) manual that governs data collection standards for accredited cancer programs.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a 'case-finding' audit in cancer registry operations?
- To verify that all reportable cases were identified and accessioned (Correct answer)
- To review the quality of coded data elements
- To confirm follow-up contacts were completed
- To validate survival analysis calculations
Correct answer: To verify that all reportable cases were identified and accessioned
A case-finding audit verifies completeness by checking that every reportable cancer case treated at the facility was identified, preventing missed accessions.
Question 3: In cancer registry data collection, the term 'abstracting' refers to which activity?
- Removing duplicate cases from the database
- Extracting and coding required data elements from the medical record (Correct answer)
- Summarizing survival statistics for annual reports
- Transferring data electronically to a central registry
Correct answer: Extracting and coding required data elements from the medical record
Abstracting is the process of reviewing the medical record and extracting specific coded data elements required by registry standards.
Question 4: Which ICD-O-3 axis is used to code the histologic type of a cancer?
- Topography
- Morphology (Correct answer)
- Behavior
- Grade
Correct answer: Morphology
The morphology axis of ICD-O-3 codes both the histologic cell type and behavior of a neoplasm.
Question 5: When a patient is diagnosed with cancer at one facility but receives all treatment at another, which facility has the accession responsibility under CoC rules?
- The diagnosing facility only
- The treating facility only
- Both facilities must accession the case (Correct answer)
- Neither facility; the state registry accessions it
Correct answer: Both facilities must accession the case
Under CoC standards, both the diagnosing facility and the treating facility are required to accession and abstract the case independently.
Question 6: What does the behavior code '/3' signify in ICD-O-3 morphology coding?
- Benign tumor
- Uncertain malignant potential
- Malignant, primary site (Correct answer)
- Metastatic or secondary
Correct answer: Malignant, primary site
In ICD-O-3, the behavior code /3 indicates a malignant neoplasm at the primary site.
Question 7: Which data element describes how far a cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis and is required by virtually all U.S. registry reporting standards?
- Primary site
- Laterality
- AJCC stage or summary stage (Correct answer)
- Date of first contact
Correct answer: AJCC stage or summary stage
Stage at diagnosis — recorded as AJCC TNM stage or Collaborative Stage/Summary Stage — is a required data element that indicates extent of disease spread.
EC Cancer Registry Data Collection 2
Which organization publishes the STORE manual used as the standard reference for cancer registry data collection in the U.S.?