What’s new for v26?

Changes to data collection standards, registry operations, and cancer registry software products impact hospital registrars, central registries, standard setting agencies, and cancer registry software vendors. Timely implementation of these changes is essential to the cancer surveillance community. The Mid-Level Tactical Group (MLTG) is responsible for monitoring the change management process and ensuring timely implementation. All products (e.g., Data Dictionary, Implementation Guidelines, Edits metafile, etc.) released for a given implementation year and their timeline are monitored by the MLTG.

In March 2025, the MLTG completed their voting on the proposed revisions for v26. The MLTG voting results and their recommendations were submitted to the High-Level Strategic Group (HLSG) for review. Then the HLSG voted on the proposed revisions for v26 and the following were approved:

• 8 new data items
  • Lung STAS – Stage/Prognostic Factors
  • Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) – Stage/Prognostic Factors
  • RCB Class – Stage/Prognostic Factors
  • Geocoding Accuracy Score – Demographic (Derived)
  • Geocoding Accuracy Type – Demographic (Derived)
  • RUCA 2020 – Demographic
  • URIC 2020 – Demographic
  • Sex Assigned at Birth – Demographic
• 8 revised data items
  • Microsatellite Instability (MSI) [3890] – add endometrium
  • RUCA 2010 [341] and URIC 2010 [346] – clarifications
  • RUCA 2000 [339] and URIC 2000 [345] – clarifications
• 17 retired data items
  • Sex [220] (conversion)
  • Pediatric Stage [1120]
  • Pediatric Staging System [1130]
  • Pediatric Staged By [1140]
  • NPCR Derived AJCC 8 TNM Clin Stg Grp [3645]
  • NPCR Derived AJCC 8 TNM Path Stg Grp [3646]
  • NPCR Derived AJCC 8 TNM Post Therapy Stg Grp [3647]
  • Comorbid/Complications 1-10 [3110, 3120, 3130, 3140, 3150, 3160, 3161, 3162, 3163, 3164]

It may seem way too early to start thinking about 2027 when we haven’t even released v26; however, the MLTG implementation timeline requires standard setting agencies to submit their proposal for new data items and/or revised data items that require field testing by July 1, 2025 (18 months prior to implementation). Proposals for revised data items (that will not require field testing) and/or retired data items are required by October 1, 2025. Planning for 2027 implementation is just around the corner! Have you started preparing for 2027?