Oral cancer incidence based on annual cancer statistics in Korea

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this research was to determine the incidence of oral cancer in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The classifications of oral and maxillofacial cancer (OMFC) that we used are based on possible locations of OMFC: lip, tongue, mouth, salivary glands, tonsil, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx unspecified, and nose, sinuses. RESULTS: 1) There were 2,848 OMFC cases, accounting for 1.6% of all cancers. The male to female ratio was 2.72:1. 2) The estimated crude rates (CRs) were 5.7 overall, 8.4 for males, and 3.1 for females. The age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) were 4.6 overall, 7.3 for males and 2.3 for females. 3) The incidence of mouth cancer was highest. The mouth and salivary glands were the most frequent sites for cancer among males and females, respectively. 4) Patients who were 40 years or older accounted for 91% of OMFC cases, with the highest proportion of cases in the 60-69 year-old age group for both sexes. 5) Tongue cancer was the most prevalent OMFC overall. Nasopharyngeal cancer was highest among males, and salivary gland cancer was highest among females. 6) From 2004 to 2008, the relative 5-year survival rate of OMFC patients was 57.5%. There was a trend of increasing survival among OMFC patients during the study period. The survival rate for females (69.3%) was much higher than that for males (53.1%). CONCLUSION: Social and personal efforts should be required to increase the survival rates of OMFC patients and Korean national cancer management policy should establish new measures for economic and social management and support.

Análisis descriptivo del cáncer oral en el municipio de pasto

Introducción: El propósito del presente estudio fue realizar un análisis descriptivo del cáncer oral en el Municipio de Pasto, el cual no había sido caracterizado, analizado y divulgado antes cuando la incidencia de cáncer oral a nivel mundial y nacional incrementa, igualmente la exposición a factores de riesgo. Método: Un estudio retrospectivo descriptivo basado en los 99 casos de cáncer oral reportados en el Registro Poblacional de Cáncer del Municipio de Pasto desde el año 1998 al 2002. La información seleccionada se dividió en dos grupos de variables, la primera correspondiente a los aspectos sociodemográficos y una segunda correspondiente a los aspectos diagnósticos. Resultados: Los 99 casos de cáncer oral tienen una tasa cruda (TC) de 7.82 casos por 100.000 habitantes y una tasa ajustada por edad (TAE) de 8.51 (IC 95%: 7.13-9.9). La incidencia específica o por género fue de 43 nuevos casos en hombres con una TC de 6.54 por 100.000 habitantes y una TAE de 8.02; en mujeres se presentaron 52 nuevos casos con una TC de 9.03 por 100.000 habitantes y una TAE de 8.99. Conclusión: el presente estudio mostró una incidencia del cáncer oral en hombres y mujeres bastante similar, mientras que las otras variables mostraron ser coherentes con los resultados de otros estudios a nivel mundial.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to carry out a descriptive analysis of oral cancer in the municipality of Pasto. Such study has not been characterized, analyzed and spread before despite the fact that oral cancer incidence level increases worldwide and nationwide as well as the exposure to risk factors. Method: A retrospective study was done. It was based in 99 cases of reported oral cancer in the Cancer Population Registration in the Municipality of Pasto from 1998 to 2002. The selected information was divided in two variable groups. The first one belongs to the socio-demographic aspects and the second belongs to the diagnosis aspects. Results: The 99 cases of oral cancer have a crude rate (CR) of 7.82 cases per 100.000 inhabitants and an age-adjusted rate (AAR) of 8.51(CI 95%: 7.13-9.9). The specific incidence or by genre was of 43 new cases in men with a CR of 6.54 per 100.000 inhabitants and an AAR of 8.02; while 52 new cases with a CR of 9.03 per 100.000 inhabitants and an AAR of 8.99 were presented in women. Conclusion: The present study showed a similar oral cancer incidence in men and women, while other variables showed the coherence with results of worldwide level studies.