[Epidemiological cancer registries in Germany: history from a legal point of view].

Despite decades of efforts, the establishment of a satisfactory nationwide, population-based cancer registry for Germany was very slow. The reason for this until 1990 was the lack of coverage or the-apart from the Saarland-inadequate degree of coverage in the old federal states. The former East Germany, however, had a comprehensive cancer registry. Starting in 1990, decisive obstacles-especially when considering data protection needs and the distribution of powers between federal and state governments-could be overcome. On the basis of an open-ended federal law and state requirements, a nationwide cancer registry with analysis of the collected data for epidemiological purposes has been achieved.