Epidemiological characteristics of gynecologic malignancies in Korean women

Purpose of investigation: The aim of this study was to review the changes in the epidemiological characteristics of cervical, ovarian, and uterine corpus cancers in Korean women. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the websites of Statistics Korea and the National Cancer Center. The total diagnosed cases were compared from 1999 to 2012, and five-year survival rates from 1993 to 2011. Age- standardized incidence rates (ASR) for each type of cancer were compared from 1999 to 2012. The authors also compared these data according to the spread status of the disease. Percentage changes in incidence rates for all three cancers according to age group were compared from 1999 to 2011 in four-year intervals. Results: The highest ASR for cervical cancer was 18.6 per 100,000 in 1999, whereas for ovarian and uterine corpus cancer they were 6.5 and 5.9 per 100,000 in 2012, respectively. Five-year survival rates of cervical and ovarian cancer showed no significant improvement, but that of uterine corpus cancer slightly improved. Most patients with cervical cancer (79%) and uterine corpus cancer (84%) were diagnosed at either localized or regional spread status. The age-specific incidence rates for cervical cancer decreased in all age groups except the 20-29-year-old and above 85-year-old age groups. Conclusion: The decreasing trend of incidence of cervical cancer may be the result of well-organized and an improved participation rate in the national cancer screening program. This review could be a reference for predicting the future status of these cancers among women in less developed countries.

Cervical cancer; Ovarian cancer; Uterine corpus cancer; Korea; Epidemiology.

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