46 National Cancer Database (NCDB)
46.3 Description
- Clinical oncology database sourced from hospital registry data
- Collected in more than 1500 Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited facilities in US
- Represent more than 70% of newly diagnosed cancer cases nationwide
- Used to analyze and track patients with malignant neoplastic diseases, their treatments, and outcomes
- Used to explore trends in cancer care, create regional and state benchmarks, and serve as basis for quality improvement
- Data includes patient characteristics, cancer staging and tumor histological characteristics, type of first course treatment administered, and outcomes information
46.6 Collection Methodology
- Data elements are collected and submitted to the NCDB from CoC-accredited cancer program registries using nationally standardized data item and coding definitions and nationally standardized data transmission format specifications coordinated by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries
46.7 Available at
Participant User Files (PUF) are available upon request, but must coincide with an announced application period. More information can be found here: https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/cancer/ncdb/puf
46.8 User Guide/Data Dictionary
A data dictionary and other documentation are available at the same website as PUF information
46.9 Cost
Free through an application process to investigators associated with CoC-accredited cancer programs
46.12 Special Notes
- Data can be queried using the NCBD Public Benchmark Reports for cases diagnosed 2009- 2018 at https://reportsncdb.facs.org/BMPub/
- Data request must coincide with application period