Staging Systems and Data Analysis

Abstract

Some of the fundamental processes that lie behind the construction of staging systems have been pointed out, and an argument has been generated to suggest that local recurrence should be the end point of such systems when comparisons of surgical technique have to be made. An example of one method of data analysis is given which allows clinical and pathologic factors of importance to be identified, from which accurate predictions can be generated. Such a method might at last allow fairer comparisons to be made between centres.

Key Words:

• End points
• prediction
• staging systems
• survival