title: Epidemiologic survey of head and neck cancers in Korea.
abstract: Head and neck cancers have never been systematically studied for clinical purposes yet in Korea. This epidemiological survey on head and neck cancer patients was undertaken from January to December 2001 in 79 otorhinolaryngology resident-training hospitals nationwide. The number of head and neck cancer patients was 1,063 cases in the year. The largest proportion of cases arose in the larynx, as many as 488 cases, which accounted for 45.9%. It was followed by, in order of frequency, oral cavity (16.5%), oropharynx (10.0%), and hypopharynx (9.5%). The male:female ratio was 5:1, and the mean age was 60.3 yr. Surgery was the predominant treatment modality in head and neck cancers: 204 (21.5%) cases were treated with only surgery, 198 (20.8%) cases were treated with surgery and radiotherapy, 207 cases (21.8%) were treated with combined therapy of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Larynx and hypopharynx cancers had a stronger relationship with smoking and alcohol drinking than other primary site cancers. Of them, 21 cases were found to be metastasized at the time of diagnosis into the lung, gastrointestinal tract, bone, or brain. Coexisting second primary malignancies were found in 23 cases. At the time of diagnosis, a total of 354 cases had cervical lymph node metastasis accounting for 42.0%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea. kmkim97@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
authors.forename: Kwang-Moon
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Mo
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoon-Sang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Kwang Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyuck Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jong Ouck
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Rho
authors.forename: Min-Sik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Chang
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Geon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Myung-Whun
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Sang-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong-Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Sang-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung-Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Sang-Hak
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jae-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology