Introduction
The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), in partnership with Health Data Insight CIC (HDI), runs a programme of cancer site-specific clinical audits designed to understand variation in patient care and drive improvements. Each audit uses a consistent methodology. Cases are identified from the National Cancer Registration Dataset, and clinicians at participating providers are invited to complete structured forms covering diagnostic procedure details, patient care and follow up, via the individual audit portals within the NDRS Clinical Audit System. Data collected under this framework are stored within NDRS Cancer Analysis Systems and governed under the Directions.
The programme currently includes the following audits:
- Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) Audit
- Post-Imaging Pancreatic Cancer (PIPC) Project
- Post-Endoscopy Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer (PEUGIC) Project
- Post-Colonoscopy Colorectal Cancer (PCCRC) Audit
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) Audit
The Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) Audit Project reviews patients diagnosed with CCA in 2024 in England. Cases are identified through the National Cancer Registration Dataset. The aim is to understand how cholangiocarcinoma is managed across the NHS in England, and how this may be improved. It is anticipated that around 3,000 CCA cases will be reviewed.
Post-Imaging Pancreatic Cancer (PIPC) Project
The Post-Imaging Pancreatic Cancer (PIPC) Root Cause Analysis Project reviews patients diagnosed in England with pancreatic cancer from 2019 onwards, between 3 and 18 months after a CT or MRI scan that did not detect cancer. Cases are identified through the National Cancer Registration Dataset with diagnostic and imaging procedures being captured from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Admitted Patient Care (APC) and Outpatient (OP) datasets and the Diagnostic Imaging Dataset (DID). This project aims to understand why PIPC cases occur and support improvements in earlier pancreatic cancer diagnosis and patient outcomes. It is anticipated that around 3,000 PIPC cases will be reviewed.
Post-Endoscopy Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer (PEUGIC) Project
The Post-Endoscopy Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer (PEUGIC) Root Cause Analysis Project reviewed >2,600 patients diagnosed in England with upper gastrointestinal cancer from 2017 onwards, between 3 and 36 months after an endoscopy that did not detect cancer. Cases were identified through the National Cancer Registration Dataset with diagnostic procedures being captured from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Admitted Patient Care (APC) and Outpatient (OP) datasets. This project aimed to understand why PEUGIC cases occur and support improvements in earlier oesophageal and stomach cancer diagnosis and patient outcomes.
Post-Colonoscopy Colorectal Cancer (PCCRC) Audit
The Post-Colonoscopy Colorectal Cancer (PCCRC) audit reviewed more than 1,700 patients diagnosed in England with colorectal cancer from 2020 onwards, between 6 and 48 months after a colonoscopy that did not detect cancer. Cases were identified through the National Cancer Registration Dataset with diagnostic procedures being captured from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Admitted Patient Care (APC) and Outpatient (OP) datasets. This project aimed to understand why PCCRC cases occur and support improvements in earlier colorectal cancer diagnosis and patient outcomes.
Feedback and support
For further information concerning the Cancer Site-Specific Audits contact [email protected].
Last edited: 29 July 2026 2:04 pm
