What type of registry typically obtains death certificates from governmental sources to identify missed cancer cases?

A central registry typically obtains death certificates from governmental sources to identify missed cancer cases because its primary function is to compile comprehensive data on cancer diagnoses and outcomes across a defined geographic area. Central registries have the authority and resources to access public health information, including death certificates, which helps in identifying cases that may not have been reported through other means, such as hospital or clinical reports.

This process is crucial for maintaining the accuracy and completeness of cancer data, as it allows registries to identify patients who may have died from cancer without having an initial report of their diagnosis. By analyzing death certificates, central registries can ensure that their cancer data reflects the true burden of the disease in the population, which is vital for public health research, policy-making, and cancer control initiatives.

Hospital registries, in contrast, are primarily focused on collecting data from within a specific facility, making them less likely to have direct access to death certificates from multiple governmental sources. Private cancer centers and national health agencies may work with mortality data but do so within different scopes and mechanisms that may not prioritize missed case identification in the same manner as central registries do.