ON THE ESTIMATION OF SURVIVAL

The advantages and disadvantages of the different methods for calculat ing survival according to the TNM (Topography, Lymph Node, and Metasta sis) are described. Methods include the observed, relative, and condit ional survival rates. For large cohorts, relative survival calculated by the life table method is most useful. Conditional survival, which r equires long-term follow-up, is clinically the most informative. In ad dition, follow-up methods employed by tumor registries are considered. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.