Development and use of the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries standards for cancer registries.

Lack of standardization in data items, definitions, and codes in cancer registries has complicated analyses of pooled cancer data and has limited sharing of methods and software. The North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) has successfully developed and implemented extensive standards for data items and processes used by cancer registries in the United States and Canada. The article describes NAACCR's approach to achieving concensus and facilitating adoption of standards by combining volunteer and staff efforts, including broad-based representation in committees and providing shared automated software. Specific standards and their rationales are provided.