What is indicated by the term "accession number"?

The term "accession number" refers to a unique identifier assigned to each reportable case within a cancer registry. This number is crucial for tracking and managing cases, as it allows for accurate documentation and ensures that each case can be distinctly recognized among potentially thousands of records.

Having a unique accession number helps in the organization of data, facilitates information retrieval, and aids in the reporting processes for both regulatory and research purposes. It also provides a systematic means for linking other relevant information about the patient and their treatment, as well as outcomes associated with the diagnosed cancer.

The other options, while relevant to aspects of cancer registration or case management, do not define what an accession number is. For instance, the date of diagnosis and the classification of cancer are important data points, but they do not serve as a unique identifier in records management. Similarly, the facility providing therapy may be part of the report but is unrelated to the definition of an accession number.