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ABSTRACT: Background and purpose
Stage at cancer diagnosis is an important predictor of cancer survival. TNM stage is constructed for anatomic solid cancer diagnoses from tumor size (T), nodal spread (N) and distant metastasis (M) and categorized in groups 0-I, II, II and IV. TNM stage is imperative in cancer diagnosis, management and control, and of high value in cancer surveillance, for example, monitoring of stage distributions. This study yields an overview of TNM availability and trends in stage distribution in the Nordic countries for future use in monitoring and epidemiologic studies.Material and methods
TNM information was acquired from the cancer registries in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland during 2004-2016 for 26 cancer sites in the three former countries and four in Iceland. We studied availability, comparability, and distribution of TNM stage in three periods: 2004-2008, 2009-2013, and 2014-2016, applying a previously validated algorithm of 'N0M0 for NXMX'. For cancers of colon, rectum, lung, breast, and kidney, we examined TNM stage-specific 1-year relative survival to evaluate the quality in registration of TNM between countries.Results
Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland exhibited available TNM stage proportions of 75-95% while proportions were lower in Norway. Proportions increased in Sweden over time but decreased in Denmark. One-year relative survival differed substantially more between TNM stages than between countries emphasizing that TNM stage is an important predictor for survival and that stage recording is performed similarly in the Nordic countries.Interpretation
Assessment and registration of TNM stage is an imperative tool in evaluations of trends in cancer survival between the Nordic countries.
SUBMITTER: Engholm G
PROVIDER: S-EPMC11332511 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Engholm Gerda G Lundberg Frida E FE Kønig Simon M SM Ólafsdóttir Elínborg E Johannesen Tom B TB Pettersson David D Malila Nea N Mørch Lina S LS Johansson Anna L.V. AL Friis Søren S
Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden) 20240507
<h4>Background and purpose</h4>Stage at cancer diagnosis is an important predictor of cancer survival. TNM stage is constructed for anatomic solid cancer diagnoses from tumor size (T), nodal spread (N) and distant metastasis (M) and categorized in groups 0-I, II, II and IV. TNM stage is imperative in cancer diagnosis, management and control, and of high value in cancer surveillance, for example, monitoring of stage distributions. This study yields an overview of TNM availability and trends in st ...[more]