Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) Practice Exam

When can a case be excluded from follow-up requirements according to the Commission on Cancer?

1. If the patient receives alternative therapy

2. If the patient resides in or moves to a foreign country

3. If the patient declines treatment

4. If the patient has been treated out-of-state

The correct answer is: If the patient resides in or moves to a foreign country

Excluding a case from follow-up requirements is pertinent for maintaining the integrity and accuracy of cancer data registries. The specific guideline from the Commission on Cancer indicates that a case can indeed be excluded when a patient resides in or moves to a foreign country. This is due to practical considerations regarding the ability to perform follow-up in cases where the patient is no longer reachable through standard domestic channels. When patients move abroad, it becomes exceedingly difficult for registrars to obtain updated health information or ongoing treatment details as the usual reporting systems and communication infrastructures may not apply. Therefore, registrars may not be able to ensure accurate and complete data collection on those cases, thus justifying their exclusion from follow-up. Other scenarios involving alternative therapy, declining treatment, or out-of-state treatment generally do not lead to automatic exclusion from follow-up requirements. These situations can still allow for data collection and reporting, as registrars can often locate and communicate with patients or facilities regardless of the treatment type or location within the country.