The prevalence of renal cell carcinoma: a nation-wide survey in Japan in 1997.
BACKGROUND
The present study was conducted to investigate the incidence of renal cell carcinoma by sex, age group and different regions in Japan.


METHODS
The survey was conducted from the beginning of January 1997 to the end of December 1997. A total of 1306 Institutions in all 47 prefectures throughout Japan were requested to register cases.


RESULTS
There were 6358 persons with renal cell carcinoma, consisting of 4372 men and 1986 women. The age-specific incidence rates showed a peak in the age group of 65-70 years in both men and women. The crude incidence rates per 100 000 population for men and women were 7.1 and 3.1, respectively, and age-standardized incidence rates per 100 000 population for men and women were 4.9 and 1.8, respectively. The incidence rates in the Hokkaido region were significantly higher than in other regions (P < 0.05), among which there was no significant difference in incidence rates.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed that the incidence rates of renal cell carcinoma in Japan were approximately the same as among Japanese in Los Angeles. The rates were, however, lower than North American and European countries, but higher than China, Central or South American countries and African countries. The reasons for the high incidence of renal cancer in the Hokkaido region are not entirely clear. Further epidemiologic research is required.
Marumo
K
K
Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. kmarumo@med.keio.ac.jp
Satomi
Y
Y
Miyao
N
N
Hasegawa
M
M
Tomita
Y
Y
Igarashi
T
T
Onishi
T
T
Nakazawa
H
H
Fukuda
M
M
Ozono
S
S
Terachi
T
T
Tsushima
T
T
Nakamoto
T
T
Kawamura
J
J
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution