Cancer Res Treat.  2015 Oct;47(4):575-582. 10.4143/crt.2014.047.

Incidence and Treatment Pattern of Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Korea, 2009-2011: A Nationwide Study Based on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Database

• Kang S
• Kim HS
• Choi ES
• Han I

• KMID: 2403374
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2014.047

Abstract

PURPOSE
We conducted a nationwide study to assess the incidence and treatment patterns of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in South Korea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The nationwide incidence and treatment patterns of extremity STS were assessed using two nationwide databases, the Korea National Cancer Incidence (KNCI) database and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database.
RESULTS
A total of 1,236 patients were newly diagnosed with extremity STS during the 3-year study period, from 2009 to 2011. The annual incidence of extremity STS in the Korean population was approximately 0.9 per 100,000 people with a male bias that increased with age and was especially pronounced amongst individuals aged > 80 years. Approximately 7% of patients did not receive any treatment, and surgical excision was performed for 85% of those who were treated.
CONCLUSION
This is the first nationwide study of the incidence and treatment patterns of extremity STS in Korea using two national databases (KNCI and HIRA), which include the entire Korean population. The results of this study may be useful for future planning and management of STS, at the national level.

Keyword

Sarcoma; Incidence; Registries; Korea; Therapy

MeSH Terms

Bias (Epidemiology)
Extremities*
Humans
Incidence*
Insurance, Health*
Korea*
Male
Registries
Sarcoma*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. The age distribution of the Korean population based on the 2010 census from the Korean Statistical Information Service [19]. Notably, there were relatively few individuals aged ≥ 50 years.

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  Fig. 2. The mean incidence and incidence rates of extremity soft tissue sarcoma per 100,000 people by sex and age group.

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  Fig. 3. Total incidence of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) (blue line) and the number of patients who underwent treatment (green line).

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