Data Edits

Data edits test the logical effects of coding rules or natural relationships. For example, squamous cell carcinoma commonly develops in the lung but it is not expected to develop in the pleura. An automated edit could question or flag a case coded as squamous cell carcinoma of the pleura. Depending on how the edit is implemented by the registry software, it may prohibit saving that combination of codes, allow the registrar to set an override flag if necessary, or simply print an edit report.

Data edited using varying data sets are not statistically comparable. This is an especially difficulty concept to grasp because it challenges a widely accepted axiom, "the more editing the better."

The SEER program developed the first standard edits for registry data. Through the leadership of NAACCR, edit standards have been compiled for data elements within and across standard data sets. When edits are adopted, any updated or modified data in the registry should be re-edited. View the NAACCR Standard Edits for Cancer Registries, Volume IV.