A Method for the Estimation of Completeness of Cancer Registration Application to the Fukuoka Cancer Registry

Abstract

A method is proposed for estimating the number of incident cases of cancer and complete-ness of cancer registration using data from a population-based cancer registry. It is based on two assumptions : 1) submission of supplementary report does not depend on the duration of ill state ; and 2) registration reports and death certificates are independent sources of informa-tion. The method proposed in the present study has two advantages : 1) the number of incident cases can be estimated, even when completeness of registration varies over a period of time; 2) over-estimation of incidence by a registry can be evaluated. The use of this method was illustrated by data from the Fukuoka Cancer Registry, and completeness of registration was estimated as 69.4% for males and 66.2% for females. Furthermore, validity of the two assumptions was evaluated, and result from the evaluation suggested that for most sites the assumptions were valid and the estimated completeness not biased. But for some sites, such as liver, lung, and pancreas, the second assumption would be less valid and the complete-ness underestimated.