Addressing the Challenge of Geospatial Accuracy in Cancer Registration: The Louisiana Tumor Registry Experience

Accurate geospatial data is foundational to cancer research, supporting efforts in cancer control and prevention programs, exposure analysis, and understanding of the socio-economic determinants of health.^1-5 As a population-based cancer registry, the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) supplies data to national cancer datasets via North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER), while also publishing geographically-detailed cancer statistics for the state. Beyond these national contributions, LTR data has been instrumental in a wide range of cancer research applications, including but not limited to environmental exposure analysis.⁶ Recognizing the need for cancer statistics at the community level, the Louisiana State Legislature enacted R.S. 40:1105.10 in 2018, requiring an annual cancer incidence report by census tract.⁷ As a SEER registry, LTR has utilized the SEER Data Management System (SEER*DMS) since 2009, integrating the NAACCR-supported and NCI-funded geocoder, Geocodio API. While individual registries and jurisdictions will possess varying resources in obtaining complete and accurate geospatial data, all NAACCR registries have access to Geocodio. This report summarizes the strategies and practices LTR has implemented to achieve high quality geospatial data and provides guidelines that other registries can implement to meet this critical objective.