J Korean Med Assoc.  2006 May;49(5):439-448. 10.5124/jkma.2006.49.5.439.

Cancer Screening in Korea I

• Seo HG

• KMID: 2064952
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2006.49.5.439

Abstract

The proportion of cancer related mortality is 26.3% in 2004 and it is still increasing. The most common cancers are stomach cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, and cervix cancer in order of frequency. The proportion of above 6 most common cancers in mortality is 66.8%. The purpose of cancer screening is to reduce morbidity and mortality of cancers by early diagnosis and early treatment. The assessment of screening test includes validity and reliability. Four terms describe the validity of a screening tests: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive value. The low prevalence lower the positive predictive value. Bias in the evaluation of screening tests lies in selection bias, lead-time bias, and length bias. National cancer screening program for 5 popular cnacers except lung cancer developed since 1999. The target population of this program is lower half of low-income level.

Keyword

Cancer screening; Early detection; Bias

MeSH Terms

Bias (Epidemiology)
Breast Neoplasms
Colonic Neoplasms
Early Detection of Cancer*
Early Diagnosis
Health Services Needs and Demand
Korea*
Liver Neoplasms
Lung Neoplasms
Mass Screening
Mortality
Prevalence
Reproducibility of Results
Selection Bias
Sensitivity and Specificity
Stomach Neoplasms
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Figure

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  Figure 1 Annual mortality trends by leading causes of deaths in Korea

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  Figure 2 The proportion of cancer incidence by sex

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