Evaluation of algorithms using administrative health and structured electronic medical record data to determine breast and colorectal cancer recurrence in a Canadian province : Using algorithms to determine breast and colorectal cancer recurrence.

Algorithms developed in this study using administrative health and structured EMR data to determine breast and colorectal cancer recurrence had moderate sensitivity and PPV, high specificity, NPV, and correct classification, but low accuracy. The accuracy is similar to other algorithms developed to classify recurrence only (i.e., distinguished from second primary) and inferior to algorithms that do not make this distinction. The accuracy of algorithms for determining cancer recurrence only must improve before replacing chart reviews.