Case-Based Interpretation of Best Medical Coding Practices: Application to Data Collection for Cancer Registries

Currently, cancer remains one of the main causes of death. To assist in the fight against this disease, cancer registries are being used. A cancer registry is a systematic, continuous, exhaustive and non redundant collection of data about cancers diagnosed and/or treated in a country or region. The collected data is defined in international standards with common terminologies (e.g., the International Classification of Diseases, commonly abbreviated as ICD [7]) and associated to best medical coding practices. Unfortunately, these practices and standards are very complex, making it di cult for operators, i.e. medical sta↵ in charge of collecting and coding the data, and coding experts to apply them e ciently and consistently.