Here is what we have learned from this unit:
- The major rationale for making benign and borderline CNS
tumors reportable is:
- Benign and borderline CNS tumors cause disruption
of normal function similar to that caused by malignant
CNS tumors.
- Location of a CNS tumor may have as much effect as
tumor behavior (benign or malignant) for morbidity and
mortality.
- CNS tumors, whether benign or malignant, produce clinical
effects by similar mechanisms of mass effect, hemorrhage,
seizure activity, and edema.
- At the request of the Brain Tumor Working Group (BTWG)
in January 2003, NAACCR established a Benign Brain Tumor
subcommittee of their Registry Operations Committee. The
subcommittee was to develop procedure guidelines needed
in registry operations when non-malignant CNS tumors were
included in data collection efforts.
- In 2003, both SEER and COC agreed to make reporting of
non-malignant brain tumors a requirement with a common implementation
date for cases diagnosed January 1, 2004 and later.
- The term "brain-related tumor" means a listed
primary tumor (whether malignant or benign) occurring in
any of the following sites:
- The brain, meninges, spinal cord, cauda equina, a
cranial nerve or nerves, or any other part of the central
nervous system.
- The pituitary gland, pineal gland, or craniopharyngeal
duct.
- Some important casefinding sources include:
- Disease indices
- Surgery logs
- Diagnostic imaging
- Radiation oncology
- Neurology clinics
- Medical oncology
- Autopsy reports
- Pathology reports
- The central registries that do not currently collect non-malignant
CNS tumors will have to make sure that their reporting law
requires them to include these cases beginning with cases
diagnosed January 1, 2004.
 |
