The data item Collaborative Stage Tumor Extension is grouped under which abstracting section?

• A. Patient Identification
• B. Stage of Disease at Diagnosis
• C. First Course of Treatment
• D. Cancer Identification

Answer: (B)

Staging information is organized around how far the cancer has extended locally. The Collaborative Stage data item that records tumor extension describes the local spread of the primary tumor at diagnosis, which directly informs the stage of the disease. Therefore it fits under Stage of Disease at Diagnosis. It doesn’t describe patient identity, the treatment given, or the cancer’s identity, so those sections aren’t appropriate.