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Cancer Causes & Control

Published in:

01-09-2009 | Original Paper

Spatial cluster analysis of early stage breast cancer: a method for public health practice using cancer registry data

Authors: Jaymie R. Meliker, Geoffrey M. Jacquez, Pierre Goovaerts, Glenn Copeland, May Yassine

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 7/2009

Abstract

Objectives

Cancer registries are increasingly mapping residences of patients at time of diagnosis, however, an accepted protocol for spatial analysis of these data is lacking. We undertook a public health practice–research partnership to develop a strategy for detecting spatial clusters of early stage breast cancer using registry data.

Methods

Spatial patterns of early stage breast cancer throughout Michigan were analyzed comparing several scales of spatial support, and different clustering algorithms.

Results

Analyses relying on point data identified spatial clusters not detected using data aggregated into census block groups, census tracts, or legislative districts. Further, using point data, Cuzick-Edwards’ nearest neighbor test identified clusters not detected by the SaTScan spatial scan statistic. Regression and simulation analyses lent credibility to these findings.

Conclusions

In these cluster analyses of early stage breast cancer in Michigan, spatial analyses of point data are more sensitive than analyses relying on data aggregated into polygons, and the Cuzick-Edwards’ test is more sensitive than the SaTScan spatial scan statistic, with acceptable Type I error. Cuzick-Edwards’ test also enables presentation of results in a manner easily communicated to public health practitioners. The approach outlined here should help cancer registries conduct and communicate results of geographic analyses.

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Title: Spatial cluster analysis of early stage breast cancer: a method for public health practice using cancer registry data
Authors: Jaymie R. Meliker
Geoffrey M. Jacquez
Pierre Goovaerts
Glenn Copeland
May Yassine
Publication date: 01-09-2009
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 7/2009
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9312-4

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Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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