Collaborative Staging (CS) Version 01.02.00 has been released as a result of inquiries and issues identified by the cancer registry user community since the August 2004 release of Version 01.01.00. The CS Task Force considers all revisions necessary. We'd like to thank those individuals who took the time to document and share issues they identified.

Changes in this new version affect both the input data items and the derived fields. Implementation of Collaborative Stage version 01.02.00 requires four actions:

1) Updating the tables used during data entry, whether online or in paper documentation.

The tables on this site have been updated today, April 25. Printed or printable correction pages for the paper manual will be made available soon.

2) Replacing the computer algorithm that calculates derived stage values.

For users of the Windows Dynamic Link Library (DLL), this may be no more than the replacement of the file cstage.dll, which is available on this site. For other systems, some programming or recompiling will be required. Users should not replace the file cstage.dll without consulting their software providers.

3) Recoding certain cases according to the new tables.

All cases diagnosed on or after 1/1/05 should be coded according to the new tables of Version 01.02.00. A set of obsolete codes has been identified as part of this release, and these codes should no longer be used to code CS. Earlier cases may be recoded, as well, depending on local needs and the requirements of your standard-setter. Instructions for handling these obsolete codes are provided in the document, "Conversion and Recoding Instructions for Obsolete Codes" included with this release. Recommendations and requirements from the individual standard-setters for converting and recoding cases are summarized below.

4) Re-running the algorithm on previously entered and calculated data.

The algorithm to derive stages should be re-run on all cases previously entered with older versions, so that the derived fields for all cases will have correct values according to Version 01.02.00. Depending on software capabilities, this may be done all at once on existing data, or there may be procedures for applying the new algorithm when data are extracted. Cases that have been processed with the updated algorithm should be identifiable by the new version number stored in the field CS Version Latest.

Vendors should replace the CS algorithm and follow instructions in the Software section of the CS Web pages to implement the necessary changes to their software. We recommend that vendors deliver these updates to their clients as soon as possible.

Registrars should be aware that a portion of the changes will be globally performed by re-running the computer algorithm once the updates are received from your software vendor.

However, some of the changes can only be effected by the reviewing and recoding of cases by the registrar. Detailed instructions for recoding are available on this site.

Replacement pages for the Collaborative Staging Manual and Coding Instructions will be in available in "pdf" files for downloading from the CS Web menu by May 20, 2005. Electronic HTML and XML versions of the changed tables are available immediately from the CS Web page.

CS Version 01.02.00 documents available on this site as of April 25, 2005 include:

• The CS algorithm DLL and all release documents and files
• To understand the details of this release, the following documents are available for download:
  • Executive Summary of Changes (10K PDF)
  • Record Log of Changes to the Schemas (70K PDF)
  • Conversion and Recoding Instructions for "OBSOLETE" Codes (25K PDF)

Vendor Conference Call Scheduled

Another in the series of conference calls for software vendors and programmers to address technical issues related to Version 01.02.00 of the algorithm is scheduled on:

Monday, May 2, 2005 at 2:00pm (Central Time)
Call in number is 1-866-434-7675, code number is 7282942

Questions regarding CS can be submitted to Valerie Vesich, Manager, AJCC, by e-mail at ajcc@facs.org or Tom Rawson, CS Programmer, by e-mail at tkr2@cdc.gov.

Organization Recommendations and Requirements For Implementation of CS Version 01.02.00

The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (ACoS-CoC)

The Commission on Cancer strongly encourages facilities to recode affected cases for 2004, and requires use of the new codes for all analytic 2005 cases. Specific instructions will be posted in late May for registrars and software systems regarding the review and recoding of selected cases, and a reminder of the availability of the instructions will be published in the May issue of CoC Flash.

National Cancer Institute, Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (NCI-SEER)

NCI-SEER recommends that SEER participating central cancer registries work closely with their hospital registries in order to avoid duplication of effort in recoding CS cases. SEER recommends that the new CS version be implemented as soon as possible. 2005 cases should be coded using CS Version 01.02.00. The review and recoding of 2004 cases must be completed before the November 2006 data submission. Information about which cases require recoding for the November 2006 data submission will be posted at a later date.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Program of Cancer Registries (CDC/NPCR)

NPCR requires the new codes for all 2005 cases, and requires conversion of 2004 cases only when the recode affects Summary Stage 2000.

Canadian Council of Cancer Registries (Statistics Canada--Canadian Cancer Registry)

Statistics Canada recommends that Provincial/Territorial Cancer Registries implement the new CS version as soon as possible. 2005 cases should be coded using CS Version 01.02.00. The review and conversion or recoding of 2004 cases should be completed before the March 2006 data submission to Statistics Canada. Information about which cases require recoding for the March 2006 data submission will be posted at a later date.