Academic Trend and Clinical Status of Radiotherapy for Hepatobiliary Cancer Over the Past 20 Years in Korea

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To analyze the future trends through the status of radiotherapy in the hepatobiliary cancer in Korea and related articles published in the world. METHODS: Science citation index (SCI) and science citation index expanded (SCIE) articles, published in the 20 years from 1995 until 2014, were searched that contain the keywords related hepatobiliary cancer and radiotherapy using the Scopus. The incidence of hepatobiliary cancer was analyzed using annual reports from the Korea Central Cancer Registry. The status of radiotherapy was analyzed using data obtained form the Korean Society for Radiation Oncology and the National Health Insurance Service. RESULTS: Total 2,302 papers related radiotherapy for hepatobiliary cancer were searched in the world. By 2014, the cumulative number of papers published by domestic authors was a total 221 pieces. In 1999, total 16,305 hepatobiliary cancer patients were developed, of which 729 patients have been treated with radiotherapy. In 2013, it was expected that total 22,482 hepatobiliary cancer patients would be developed, of which 3,075 patients have been treated with radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past 20 years, South Korea has made clinically and academically remarkable advances in the area of radiotherapy for hepatobiliary cancer. The researchers will continue to announce the results such as an objective status data and published papers in the future.