Cancer Registry Management Prep for ODS
ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 | ODS Cancer
Registry Certification | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Domain 1 – Cancer Registry Operations (Questions 1–15)
Q1: Under HIPAA, cancer registries are permitted to access patient information without individual
authorization for which purpose?
A. Marketing cancer research studies to patients
B. Public health reporting of cancer cases [CORRECT]
C. Sharing data with pharmaceutical companies
D. Billing for registry services
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIPAA permits disclosure of protected health information without individual authorization
for public health activities, including mandatory reporting of cancer cases to state and national registries
for disease surveillance, epidemiology, and public health research.
Q2: The Commission on Cancer (CoC) requires accredited cancer programs to maintain a cancer registry
that collects data on all reportable neoplasms diagnosed or treated at the facility. Which standard setter
defines the required data items for CoC-accredited programs?
A. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual
B. FORDS (Facility Oncology Registry Data Standards) [CORRECT]
C. ICD-10-CM only
D. SEER Program Code Manual
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FORDS (Facility Oncology Registry Data Standards) defines the required data items, coding
standards, and transmission formats for CoC-accredited cancer programs, ensuring standardized data
collection for quality improvement, accreditation, and national reporting.
Q3: Which federal agency oversees the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR)?
,A. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
B. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [CORRECT]
C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
D. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The NPCR is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and
supports central cancer registries in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and the Pacific Islands for population-based cancer surveillance.
Q4: A cancer registry receives a request from a researcher for patient-identifiable data. Under HIPAA
and standard registry ethics, which action is most appropriate?
A. Release all requested data immediately
B. Verify IRB approval and data use agreement, then release de-identified data only [CORRECT]
C. Refuse all research requests
D. Release data with patient names but no medical record numbers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cancer registries must protect patient confidentiality; identifiable data may only be released
with appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, data use agreements, and minimum
necessary standards, with de-identification preferred for research purposes.
Q5: Which behavior code in ICD-O-3 indicates carcinoma in situ (CIS)?
A. /0
B. /1
C. /2 [CORRECT]
D. /3
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ICD-O-3 behavior code /2 indicates in situ (non-invasive) neoplasms, including carcinoma in
situ and intraepithelial neoplasia grade III; /0 is benign, /1 is uncertain/unknown behavior, and /3 is
malignant (invasive).
Q6: State cancer registries are mandated to report cases to which national database?
A. National Cancer Database (NCDB)
B. SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) or NPCR-linked database [CORRECT]
,C. FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
D. CMS Hospital Compare
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: State central cancer registries report to either the SEER program (NCI-funded) or the NPCR
(CDC-funded), with data ultimately contributing to the U.S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) database for
national cancer surveillance and epidemiology.
Q7: Which document establishes the policies and procedures for a cancer registry?
A. AJCC Staging Manual
B. Registry Operations Manual [CORRECT]
C. ICD-O-3 Reference Manual
D. SEER*Stat Software Guide
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Registry Operations Manual documents the registry's policies, procedures, workflows,
quality control measures, and staffing structure, ensuring consistent operations and compliance with
CoC, state, and federal requirements.
Q8: A cancer registry technician discovers a data breach involving unauthorized access to patient
records. Under HIPAA, what is the registry's obligation?
A. Notify only the hospital administrator
B. Notify affected individuals, HHS, and potentially media within specified timeframes [CORRECT]
C. No notification is required for registry data
D. Notify only the state cancer registry
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIPAA breach notification rules require covered entities to notify affected individuals within
60 days, the Secretary of HHS, and in cases affecting more than 500 individuals, the media; cancer
registries must maintain breach notification policies as part of their HIPAA compliance program.
Q9: Which organization sets the standards for cancer program accreditation that include registry
requirements?
A. American Cancer Society
B. Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons [CORRECT]
C. National Cancer Institute
D. American Society of Clinical Oncology
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons accredits cancer
programs and establishes standards for cancer registry operations, data quality, timeliness, and
completeness as part of its Optimal Resources for Cancer Care standards.
Q10: A registry's follow-up rate for analytic cases must exceed what percentage to meet CoC standards?
A. 75%
B. 80%
C. 90% [CORRECT]
D. 95%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: CoC Standard 5.4 requires cancer registries to maintain a follow-up rate greater than 90% for
analytic cases diagnosed within the past five years, ensuring adequate survival and outcome data for
quality improvement and research.
Q11: Which term describes the process of identifying all reportable cancer cases diagnosed or treated at
a facility?
A. Abstracting
B. Casefinding [CORRECT]
C. Staging
D. Follow-up
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Casefinding is the systematic process of identifying all reportable neoplasms diagnosed or
treated at a facility through review of pathology reports, cytology, radiology, medical records, and other
sources to ensure complete ascertainment.
Q12: Under standard registry practice, when must a case be abstracted and entered into the registry?
A. Within 30 days of diagnosis or first contact [CORRECT]
B. Within 6 months of diagnosis
C. Within 1 year of diagnosis
D. Only at the end of the calendar year
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Standard registry practice and many state regulations require cases to be abstracted and
ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 | ODS Cancer
Registry Certification | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Domain 1 – Cancer Registry Operations (Questions 1–15)
Q1: Under HIPAA, cancer registries are permitted to access patient information without individual
authorization for which purpose?
A. Marketing cancer research studies to patients
B. Public health reporting of cancer cases [CORRECT]
C. Sharing data with pharmaceutical companies
D. Billing for registry services
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIPAA permits disclosure of protected health information without individual authorization
for public health activities, including mandatory reporting of cancer cases to state and national registries
for disease surveillance, epidemiology, and public health research.
Q2: The Commission on Cancer (CoC) requires accredited cancer programs to maintain a cancer registry
that collects data on all reportable neoplasms diagnosed or treated at the facility. Which standard setter
defines the required data items for CoC-accredited programs?
A. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual
B. FORDS (Facility Oncology Registry Data Standards) [CORRECT]
C. ICD-10-CM only
D. SEER Program Code Manual
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: FORDS (Facility Oncology Registry Data Standards) defines the required data items, coding
standards, and transmission formats for CoC-accredited cancer programs, ensuring standardized data
collection for quality improvement, accreditation, and national reporting.
Q3: Which federal agency oversees the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR)?
,A. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
B. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [CORRECT]
C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
D. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The NPCR is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and
supports central cancer registries in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and the Pacific Islands for population-based cancer surveillance.
Q4: A cancer registry receives a request from a researcher for patient-identifiable data. Under HIPAA
and standard registry ethics, which action is most appropriate?
A. Release all requested data immediately
B. Verify IRB approval and data use agreement, then release de-identified data only [CORRECT]
C. Refuse all research requests
D. Release data with patient names but no medical record numbers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cancer registries must protect patient confidentiality; identifiable data may only be released
with appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, data use agreements, and minimum
necessary standards, with de-identification preferred for research purposes.
Q5: Which behavior code in ICD-O-3 indicates carcinoma in situ (CIS)?
A. /0
B. /1
C. /2 [CORRECT]
D. /3
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ICD-O-3 behavior code /2 indicates in situ (non-invasive) neoplasms, including carcinoma in
situ and intraepithelial neoplasia grade III; /0 is benign, /1 is uncertain/unknown behavior, and /3 is
malignant (invasive).
Q6: State cancer registries are mandated to report cases to which national database?
A. National Cancer Database (NCDB)
B. SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) or NPCR-linked database [CORRECT]
,C. FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
D. CMS Hospital Compare
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: State central cancer registries report to either the SEER program (NCI-funded) or the NPCR
(CDC-funded), with data ultimately contributing to the U.S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) database for
national cancer surveillance and epidemiology.
Q7: Which document establishes the policies and procedures for a cancer registry?
A. AJCC Staging Manual
B. Registry Operations Manual [CORRECT]
C. ICD-O-3 Reference Manual
D. SEER*Stat Software Guide
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Registry Operations Manual documents the registry's policies, procedures, workflows,
quality control measures, and staffing structure, ensuring consistent operations and compliance with
CoC, state, and federal requirements.
Q8: A cancer registry technician discovers a data breach involving unauthorized access to patient
records. Under HIPAA, what is the registry's obligation?
A. Notify only the hospital administrator
B. Notify affected individuals, HHS, and potentially media within specified timeframes [CORRECT]
C. No notification is required for registry data
D. Notify only the state cancer registry
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIPAA breach notification rules require covered entities to notify affected individuals within
60 days, the Secretary of HHS, and in cases affecting more than 500 individuals, the media; cancer
registries must maintain breach notification policies as part of their HIPAA compliance program.
Q9: Which organization sets the standards for cancer program accreditation that include registry
requirements?
A. American Cancer Society
B. Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons [CORRECT]
C. National Cancer Institute
D. American Society of Clinical Oncology
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons accredits cancer
programs and establishes standards for cancer registry operations, data quality, timeliness, and
completeness as part of its Optimal Resources for Cancer Care standards.
Q10: A registry's follow-up rate for analytic cases must exceed what percentage to meet CoC standards?
A. 75%
B. 80%
C. 90% [CORRECT]
D. 95%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: CoC Standard 5.4 requires cancer registries to maintain a follow-up rate greater than 90% for
analytic cases diagnosed within the past five years, ensuring adequate survival and outcome data for
quality improvement and research.
Q11: Which term describes the process of identifying all reportable cancer cases diagnosed or treated at
a facility?
A. Abstracting
B. Casefinding [CORRECT]
C. Staging
D. Follow-up
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Casefinding is the systematic process of identifying all reportable neoplasms diagnosed or
treated at a facility through review of pathology reports, cytology, radiology, medical records, and other
sources to ensure complete ascertainment.
Q12: Under standard registry practice, when must a case be abstracted and entered into the registry?
A. Within 30 days of diagnosis or first contact [CORRECT]
B. Within 6 months of diagnosis
C. Within 1 year of diagnosis
D. Only at the end of the calendar year
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Standard registry practice and many state regulations require cases to be abstracted and
