Skip Navigation

JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2002 94(20):1537-1545; doi:10.1093/jnci/94.20.1537
© 2002 by Oxford University Press
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Clegg, L. X.
Right arrow Articles by Hankey, B. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Clegg, L. X.
Right arrow Articles by Hankey, B. F.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 94, No. 20, 1537-1545, October 16, 2002
© 2002 Oxford University Press

ARTICLE

Impact of Reporting Delay and Reporting Error on Cancer Incidence Rates and Trends

Limin X. Clegg, Eric J. Feuer, Douglas N. Midthune, Michael P. Fay, Benjamin F. Hankey

Affiliations of authors: L. X. Clegg, E. J. Feuer, M. P. Fay, B. F. Hankey (Surveillance Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences), D. N. Midthune (Biometry Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention), National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.

Correspondence to: Lin Clegg, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute, NIH, 6116 Executive Blvd., MSC 8316, Suite 504, Rm. 5011, Bethesda, MD 20892–8316 (e-mail: lin_clegg{at}nih.gov).

Background: Cancer incidence rates and trends are a measure of the cancer burden in the general population. We studied the impact of reporting delay and reporting error on incidence rates and trends for cancers of the female breast, colorectal, lung/bronchus, prostate, and melanoma. Methods: Based on statistical models, we obtained reporting-adjusted (i.e., adjusted for both reporting delay and reporting error) case counts for each diagnosis year beginning in 1981 using reporting information for patients diagnosed with cancer in 1981–1998 from nine cancer registries that participate in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Joinpoint linear regression was used for trend analysis. All statistical tests are two-sided. Results: Initial incidence case counts (i.e., after the standard 2-year delay) accounted for only 88%–97% of the estimated final counts; it would take 4–17 years for 99% or more of the cancer cases to be reported. The percent change between reporting-adjusted and unadjusted cancer incidence rates for the 1998 diagnosis year ranged from 3% for colorectal cancers to 14% for melanoma in whites and for prostate cancer in black males. Reporting-adjusted current incidence trends for breast cancer and lung/bronchus cancer in white females showed statistically significant increases (estimated annual percent change [EAPC] = 0.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.1% to 1.2%) and 1.2%, 95% CI = 0.7% to 1.6%, respectively), whereas trends for these cancers using unadjusted incidence rates were not statistically significantly different from zero (EAPC = 0.4%, 95% CI = –0.1% to 0.9% and 0.5%, 95% CI = –0.1% to 1.1%, respectively). Reporting-adjusted melanoma incidence rates for white males showed a statistically significant increase since 1981 (EAPC = 4.1%, 95% CI = 3.8% to 4.4%) in contrast to the unadjusted incidence rate, which was most consistent with a flat or downward trend (EAPC = –4.2%, 95% CI = –11.1% to 3.3%) after 1996. Conclusions: Reporting-adjusted cancer incidence rates are valuable in precisely determining current cancer incidence rates and trends and in monitoring the timeliness of data collection. Ignoring reporting delay and reporting error may produce downwardly biased cancer incidence trends, particularly in the most recent diagnosis years.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 CA Cancer J ClinHome page
A. Jemal, R. Siegel, E. Ward, Y. Hao, J. Xu, and M. J. Thun
Cancer Statistics, 2009
CA Cancer J Clin, July 1, 2009; 59(4): 225 - 249.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
B. D. Smith, G. L. Smith, A. Hurria, G. N. Hortobagyi, and T. A. Buchholz
Future of Cancer Incidence in the United States: Burdens Upon an Aging, Changing Nation
J. Clin. Oncol., June 10, 2009; 27(17): 2758 - 2765.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 BloodHome page
P. T. Bradford, S. S. Devesa, W. F. Anderson, and J. R. Toro
Cutaneous lymphoma incidence patterns in the United States: a population-based study of 3884 cases
Blood, May 21, 2009; 113(21): 5064 - 5073.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
N. Howlader, L. A. Ries, D. G. Stinchcomb, and B. K. Edwards
The Impact of Underreported Veterans Affairs Data on National Cancer Statistics: Analysis Using Population-Based SEER Registries
J Natl Cancer Inst, April 1, 2009; 101(7): 533 - 536.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
S. F. Altekruse, K. A. McGlynn, and M. E. Reichman
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incidence, Mortality, and Survival Trends in the United States From 1975 to 2005
J. Clin. Oncol., March 20, 2009; 27(9): 1485 - 1491.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
A. Jemal, M. J. Thun, L. A. G. Ries, H. L. Howe, H. K. Weir, M. M. Center, E. Ward, X.-C. Wu, C. Eheman, R. Anderson, et al.
Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2005, Featuring Trends in Lung Cancer, Tobacco Use, and Tobacco Control
J Natl Cancer Inst, December 3, 2008; 100(23): 1672 - 1694.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Int J EpidemiolHome page
C. Paul
Commentary: Hormone therapy and breast cancer incidence: did epidemiologists miss an effect on national trends?
Int. J. Epidemiol., June 1, 2008; 37(3): 638 - 640.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch DermatolHome page
G. M. Dores, R. E. Curtis, W. F. Anderson, and M.-F. Demierre
Assessment of Delayed Reporting of Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome in the United States
Arch Dermatol, March 1, 2008; 144(3): 413 - 414.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CA Cancer J ClinHome page
A. Jemal, R. Siegel, E. Ward, Y. Hao, J. Xu, T. Murray, and M. J. Thun
Cancer Statistics, 2008
CA Cancer J Clin, February 20, 2008; (2008) CA.2007.0010v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 CA Cancer J ClinHome page
R. L. Sedjo, T. Byers, E. Barrera Jr., C. Cohen, E. T. H. Fontham, L. A. Newman, C. D. Runowicz, A. G. Thorson, M. J. Thun, E. Ward, et al.
A Midpoint Assessment of the American Cancer Society Challenge Goal to Decrease Cancer Incidence by 25% Between 1992 and 2015
CA Cancer J Clin, November 1, 2007; 57(6): 326 - 340.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
D. P. Cronin-Fenton, L. A. Ries, L. X. Clegg, and B. K. Edwards
Rising Incidence Rates of Breast Carcinoma With Micrometastatic Lymph Node Involvement
J Natl Cancer Inst, July 4, 2007; 99(13): 1044 - 1049.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch DermatolHome page
V. D. Criscione and M. A. Weinstock
Incidence of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma in the United States, 1973-2002
Arch Dermatol, July 1, 2007; 143(7): 854 - 859.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CA Cancer J ClinHome page
L. W. Pickle, Y. Hao, A. Jemal, Z. Zou, R. C. Tiwari, E. Ward, M. Hachey, H. L. Howe, and E. J. Feuer
A New Method of Estimating United States and State-level Cancer Incidence Counts for the Current Calendar Year
CA Cancer J Clin, January 1, 2007; 57(1): 30 - 42.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CA Cancer J ClinHome page
A. Jemal, R. Siegel, E. Ward, T. Murray, J. Xu, and M. J. Thun
Cancer Statistics, 2007
CA Cancer J Clin, January 1, 2007; 57(1): 43 - 66.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 The OncologistHome page
M. J. Hayat, N. Howlader, M. E. Reichman, and B. K. Edwards
Cancer Statistics, Trends, and Multiple Primary Cancer Analyses from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program
Oncologist, January 1, 2007; 12(1): 20 - 37.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CA Cancer J ClinHome page
C. Smigal, A. Jemal, E. Ward, V. Cokkinides, R. Smith, H. L. Howe, and M. Thun
Trends in breast cancer by race and ethnicity: update 2006.
CA Cancer J Clin, May 1, 2006; 56(3): 168 - 183.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CA Cancer J ClinHome page
A. Jemal, R. Siegel, E. Ward, T. Murray, J. Xu, C. Smigal, and M. J. Thun
Cancer statistics, 2006.
CA Cancer J Clin, March 1, 2006; 56(2): 106 - 130.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
L.-E Wang, P. Xiong, S. S. Strom, L. H. Goldberg, J. E. Lee, M. I. Ross, P. F. Mansfield, J. E. Gershenwald, V. G. Prieto, J. N. Cormier, et al.
In Vitro Sensitivity to Ultraviolet B Light and Skin Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Analysis
J Natl Cancer Inst, December 21, 2005; 97(24): 1822 - 1831.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
B. K. Edwards, M. L. Brown, P. A. Wingo, H. L. Howe, E. Ward, L. A. G. Ries, D. Schrag, P. M. Jamison, A. Jemal, X. C. Wu, et al.
Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2002, Featuring Population-Based Trends in Cancer Treatment
J Natl Cancer Inst, October 5, 2005; 97(19): 1407 - 1427.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
J. J. Strouse, T. R. Fears, M. A. Tucker, and A. S. Wayne
Pediatric Melanoma: Risk Factor and Survival Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Database
J. Clin. Oncol., July 20, 2005; 23(21): 4735 - 4741.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch DermatolHome page
C. A. Charles, V. S. K. Yee, S. W. Dusza, A. A. Marghoob, S. A. Oliveria, A. Kopf, D. Rigel, and A. C. Halpern
Variation in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Melanoma In Situ: A Survey of US Dermatologists
Arch Dermatol, June 1, 2005; 141(6): 723 - 729.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CA Cancer J ClinHome page
A. Jemal, T. Murray, E. Ward, A. Samuels, R. C. Tiwari, A. Ghafoor, E. J. Feuer, and M. J. Thun
Cancer Statistics, 2005
CA Cancer J Clin, January 1, 2005; 55(1): 10 - 30.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
T. J. Woodruff, D. A. Axelrad, A. D. Kyle, O. Nweke, G. G. Miller, and B. J. Hurley
Trends in Environmentally Related Childhood Illnesses
Pediatrics, April 1, 2004; 113(4/S1): 1133 - 1140.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CA Cancer J ClinHome page
A. Jemal, R. C. Tiwari, T. Murray, A. Ghafoor, A. Samuels, E. Ward, E. J. Feuer, and M. J. Thun
Cancer Statistics, 2004
CA Cancer J Clin, January 1, 2004; 54(1): 8 - 29.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
J. M. Unger, M. LeBlanc, J. J. Crowley, H. B. Grossman, R. B. Natale, A. J. Wozniak, J. R. Berenson, A. F. List, W. A. Peters III, R. C. Flanigan, et al.
Estimating the Impact of New Clinical Trial Proven Cancer Therapy and Cancer Chemoprevention on Population Mortality: The Karnofsky Memorial Lecture
J. Clin. Oncol., December 1, 2003; 21(90230): 246s - 252.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JNCI J Natl Cancer InstHome page
H. K. Weir, M. J. Thun, B. F. Hankey, L. A. G. Ries, H. L. Howe, P. A. Wingo, A. Jemal, E. Ward, R. N. Anderson, and B. K. Edwards
Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2000, Featuring the Uses of Surveillance Data for Cancer Prevention and Control
J Natl Cancer Inst, September 3, 2003; 95(17): 1276 - 1299.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.