Review

Current practices in spatial analysis of cancer data: data characteristics and data sources for geographic studies of cancer

Francis P Boscoe¹ , Mary H Ward² and Peggy Reynolds³

¹  New York State Cancer Registry, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA

²  Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA

³  California Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Oakland, CA, USA

author email corresponding author email

International Journal of Health Geographics 2004, 3:28doi:10.1186/1476-072X-3-28

Published:	1 December 2004

Abstract

The use of spatially referenced data in cancer studies is gaining in prominence, fueled by the development and availability of spatial analytic tools and the broadening recognition of the linkages between geography and health. We provide an overview of some of the unique characteristics of spatial data, followed by an account of the major types and sources of data used in the spatial analysis of cancer, including data from cancer registries, population data, health surveys, environmental data, and remote sensing data. We cite numerous examples of recent studies that have used these data, with a focus on etiological research.