Current status of canine cancer registration – report from an international workshop

Abstract

This is a report from a workshop on canine cancer registration hosted at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science in Oslo in August 2010. The aim is to present a summary of the current efforts to gather data on canine (and feline) cancer based on information from participants at the workshop. A definition and classification of cancer registries is provided together with an inventory of the databases presented. Particular focus is placed on the distinction between population-based and hospital-based cancer registries. Future challenges are discussed and issues relating to harmonization of diagnostic coding, defining the population-at-risk, individual animal identification and data quality are included. Finally, other groups working within the field of cancer registration in companion animals are encouraged to contact the authors for future collaboration.