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Objectives: To assess the accuracy of International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision-Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in identifying subjects with lung cancer., Design: A cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study comparing ICD-9-CM 162.x code (index test) in primary position with medical chart (reference standard). Case ascertainment was based on the presence of a primary nodular lesion in the lung and cytological or histological documentation of cancer from a primary or metastatic site., Setting: Three operative units: administrative databases from Umbria Region (890 000 residents), ASL Napoli 3 Sud (NA) (1 170 000 residents) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region (1 227 000 residents)., Participants: Incident subjects with lung cancer (n=386) diagnosed in primary position between 2012 and 2014 and a population of non-cases (n=280)., Outcome Measures: Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) for 162.x code., Results: 130 cases and 94 non-cases were randomly selected from each database and the corresponding medical charts were reviewed. Most of the diagnoses for lung cancer were performed in medical departments.True positive rates were high for all the three units. Sensitivity was 99% (95% CI 95% to 100%) for Umbria, 97% (95% CI 91% to 100%) for NA, and 99% (95% CI 95% to 100%) for FVG. The false positive rates were 24%, 37% and 23% for Umbria, NA and FVG, respectively. PPVs were 79% (73% to 83%)%) for Umbria, 58% (53% to 63%)%) for NA and 79% (73% to 84%)%) for FVG., Conclusions: Case ascertainment for lung cancer based on imaging or endoscopy associated with histological examination yielded an excellent sensitivity in all the three administrative databases. PPV was moderate for Umbria and FVG but lower for NA., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in identifying subjects with melanoma., Design: A diagnostic accuracy study comparing melanoma ICD-9-CM codes (index test) with medical chart (reference standard). Case ascertainment was based on neoplastic lesion of the skin and a histological diagnosis from a primary or metastatic site positive for melanoma., Setting: Administrative databases from Umbria Region, Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Napoli 3 Sud (NA) and Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region., Participants: 112, 130 and 130 cases (subjects with melanoma) were randomly selected from Umbria, NA and FVG, respectively; 94 non-cases (subjects without melanoma) were randomly selected from each unit., Outcome Measures: Sensitivity and specificity for ICD-9-CM code 172.x located in primary position., Results: The most common melanoma subtype was malignant melanoma of skin of trunk, except scrotum (ICD-9-CM code: 172.5), followed by malignant melanoma of skin of lower limb, including hip (ICD-9-CM code: 172.7). The mean age of the patients ranged from 60 to 61 years. Most of the diagnoses were performed in surgical departments.The sensitivities were 100% (95% CI 96% to 100%) for Umbria, 99% (95% CI 94% to 100%) for NA and 98% (95% CI 93% to 100%) for FVG. The specificities were 88% (95% CI 80% to 93%) for Umbria, 77% (95% CI 69% to 85%) for NA and 79% (95% CI 71% to 86%) for FVG., Conclusions: The case definition for melanoma based on clinical or instrumental diagnosis, confirmed by histological examination, showed excellent sensitivities and good specificities in the three operative units. Administrative databases from the three operative units can be used for epidemiological and outcome research of melanoma., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)