Through the direction of the National Cancer Institute and the SEER Program, the section is involved in several special studies and reviews. Criteria for the studies are defined by the Principal Investigators utilizing Tumor Registry knowledge of data collection procedures. Cases meeting specific criteria are randomly selected from the NMTR database for some studies. Other studies and reviews require rapid case ascertainment of newly diagnosed cases entered into casefinding every two weeks. Most data items collected for a special study are not routinely abstracted, therefore review and re-abstracting of required data is done.
Some studies require in-house as well as hospital and physician office chart review.
This study examines trends of treatment over time. The information is entered into the benign breast pathology database and linked with mammography screening information. To establish breast cancer Surveillance Information Systems that will provide data for NCI researchers to assess the functioning and effectiveness of screening programs. Residence of eligible cases include Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, and Taos counties. NMTR Special Studies Section is responsible for data collection of complete details of treatment and co-morbid conditions.