Use of the National Death Index in cancer studies

The National Death Index (NDI) is a central file of identifying information on all deaths occurring in the United States since 1979. Potential uses of the NDI as a tool for both short-term and long-term follow-up in cancer treatment, prevention, and occupational studies are suggested. The various steps involved in using the NDI and interpreting the results are described, along with factors influencing the effectiveness of the matching process.