Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) Practice Exam

What determines the timeliness of casefinding in a central registry?

1. The reporting schedule of the central registry

2. Timeliness of the reporting of the hospital registries

3. Time elapsed since diagnosis

4. Frequency of audits conducted

The correct answer is: Timeliness of the reporting of the hospital registries

The timeliness of casefinding in a central registry is primarily influenced by the reporting schedule of the hospital registries. Hospital registries are responsible for collecting and reporting cancer data in a timely manner. If hospitals report cases promptly, it allows the central registry to include newly diagnosed cases without significant delays. Efficient reporting ensures that the central registry maintains up-to-date records, which is critical for tracking cancer incidence, treatment outcomes, and planning public health strategies. In contrast to the other factors, while the reporting schedule of the central registry itself is important, it is largely dependent on the first line of data coming from the hospital registries. If hospitals do not adhere to their reporting obligations, it directly impacts the ability of the central registry to function effectively and capture cases in a timely manner. Therefore, the interplay between hospital registries' reporting timelines and the central registry's ability to process that information underpins the overall timeliness of casefinding for cancer data collection.