05-30-2025
Pediatric Data Collection System/ PDCS
A 20-year-old presents to my hospital (not a pediatric hospital) and is diagnosed with Germ Cell Tumor of the Testes
Question: Can I collect the PDCS data fields?
- Yes
- No
Answer & Rationale: Yes. To quote Angela Costantini and Crista Adams “The Pediatric Data Collection System It’s Here! What Now? “presented at NCRA 2025.
- Pediatric registrars cannot bear the burden of advocacy alone. As registrars, we must ALL understand why we need to collect more data on these patients, even if you never abstract a pediatric case.
- PDCS data fields CAN be collected at adult hospitals that see patients aged 0-39.
- Any hospital can collect PDCS fields. You will need to contact your software vendor to make sure they include the Pediatric API in your upgrade.
- If you are not required to collect PDCS but choose to, be consistent in your data collection. Don’t decide on a case-by-case basis to collect it.
- Confirm with your state registry that the PDCS fields can be submitted.
Resources
- PDCS Manual https://www.naaccr.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Appendix-1.Pediatric-Data-Collection-System.v1.2.4.19.24-1.pdf
- New NAACCR Pediatric Webpage https://www.naaccr.org/pediatric-resources/#1733928553777-b2bb2c32-509f
- NCI PDQ Summaries https://www.cancer.gov/publications/pdq/information-summaries/pediatric-treatment
