Contemporary trends of endometrial cancer in Korean women

Lee, Sang Eun; Kim, Jae Weon; Park, Noh Hyun; Song, Yong Sang; Kang, Soon Beom; Lee, Hyo Pyo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The authors aim to evaluate the overall trends of this cancer including incidence rates, distribution of stage, pathologic results, and methods of treatment during the last 11 years.
METHODS
We obtained the data from the Annual Report of Gynecologic Cancer Registry Program in Korean from 1991-2002. Incidence rates were calculated using the number of population registered since 1992 from the website of National Statistical Office.
RESULTS
Age-standardized incidence rate of endometrial cancer increased markedly for 9 years (p<0.05). The peak age of endometrial cancer shifted from the seventh to the sixth decade starting from 1997. The majority of endometrial cancer was diagnosed as stage I. Stage I contributed the major proportion from 1992 and it became to 63.3% of endometrial cancer in 2002. Adenocarcinomas were the main histologic type. The trend of treatment did not change which surgery is the main therapy followed by surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy.
CONCLUSION
Recently, the incidence of endometrial cancer in Korean women increased annually during the last 9 years. Therefore, endometrial cancer may be given much more weight in the field of gynecologic cancer in Korea.