title: 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.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a nationwide study to assess the incidence and treatment patterns of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in South Korea.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seungcheol
authors: S
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Han-Soo
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea.
authors: Eun-Seok
authors: ES
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ilkyu
authors: I
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017678:Sex Distribution
keywords: Incidence; Korea; Registries; Sarcoma; Therapy