Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) Practice Exam

What type of cases does quality control focus on in a cancer registry?

1. Complete and cured cases

2. Analytic cases

3. Atypical cases

4. Follow-up cases

The correct answer is: Analytic cases

Quality control in a cancer registry primarily focuses on analytic cases. These are the cases that are typically included in cancer registry data that are used for reporting cancer incidence and outcomes. The emphasis on analytic cases ensures that the data collected is accurate, complete, and reliable for research and public health initiatives. Analytic cases are those that meet specific criteria for evaluation and analysis, which include newly diagnosed cancer cases that are first seen and treated at the reporting facility. Quality control processes are important here as they help to validate that the registry’s data reflects true patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, and clinical outcomes. Moreover, focusing on analytic cases ensures that the data can be used to identify trends in cancer incidence and survival, assess the effectiveness of treatment, and improve patient care. Quality control measures may include auditing case data for completeness and accuracy, reviewing abstracting procedures, and ensuring adherence to coding standards. In contrast, complete and cured cases, atypical cases, and follow-up cases may not necessarily be the primary focus of quality control processes within a cancer registry, as they may not impact the analytic data needed for robust epidemiological analysis and public health reporting.