Add "Cannot be assessed" to clinical/pathological_stage_group controlled terminology
According to AJCC Guidelines 8th Ed. (page 9), if TX or NX categories are used, such cases usually cannot be assigned a stage group. In such a case, the data submitter will be allowed to submit "Cannot be assessed" for the stage_group field. However, there are exceptions according to the guidelines as follows:
Exceptions:
Stage may be assigned when the TNM stage group results in Any T or Any N with M1, which includes TX or NX. These are classified as Stage IV. Examples include:
- TX NX M1, or
- TX N3 M1.
Stage may be assigned when the TNM stage group results in Any T or Any N with M0, which includes TX or NX. Examples include:
- TX N1 M0 Stage III in melanoma clinical stage
- T4 NX M0 Stage III in pancreas
Amin, Mahul B.; Gress, Donna M.; Meyer Vega, Laura R.; Edge, Stephen B.. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Eighth Edition (p. 9). American College of Surgeons. Kindle Edition.
In order to ensure the "Cannot be assessed" value is being submitted corrected, a validation script will need to implemented which will check the value of clinical/pathological_t_category and clinical/pathological_n_category.
If either clinical_t_category is TX or clinical_n_category is NX, then "Cannot be assessed" will be allowed to be submitted.
Otherwise, if clincial_t_category is not TX and clinical_n_category is not NX, then "Cannot be assessed" will not be allowed.
According to AJCC Guidelines 8th Ed. (page 9), if TX or NX categories are used, such cases usually cannot be assigned a stage group. In such a case, the data submitter will be allowed to submit "Cannot be assessed" for the stage_group field. However, there are exceptions according to the guidelines as follows:
In order to ensure the "Cannot be assessed" value is being submitted corrected, a validation script will need to implemented which will check the value of clinical/pathological_t_category and clinical/pathological_n_category.