• The datasets for reporting tumours are used in the system of standard setting, data collection, audit and feedback for those involved in caring for patients.

• Histopathology laboratories nominate a lead pathologist for each of the main cancers with responsibility for liaising with relevant local committees and clinicians and ensuring that the relevant cancers are examined, sampled and reported appropriately and in a consistent fashion.

• Histopathologists should be core members of multidisciplinary teams, dedicated to the diagnosis and management of patients with specific cancers, and should be involved in auditing this service.

• The SNOMED coding system is used to achieve as much uniformity as possible from centre to centre, and to facilitate reliable cancer registration. Either the 1979 or 1993 version of SNOMED can be used.

• Histopathologists reporting cancers should participate in appropriate EQA schemes.

• Cancer Centres and Units should be supported only by laboratories accredited to the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd, and staffed in accordance with the recommendations of The Royal College of Pathologists and the Association of Clinical Pathologists.