title: Population-Based Regional Cancer Incidence in Korea: Comparison between Urban and Rural Areas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in organ-specific cancer incidence according to the region and population size in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the data of the cancer registration program of Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center between 2008 and 2011. Age-standardized rates of cancer incidence were analyzed according to population size of the region and administrative zone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing rapidly in both urban and rural areas. However, the thyroid cancer incidence was much lower in rural areas than in urban areas and megalopolis such as Seoul. Gastric cancer was relatively more common in rural areas, in megalopolis near the sea (Ulsan, Busan, and Incheon), and other southern provinces (Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do). A detailed analysis in Gyeongsangnam-do revealed that rural areas have relatively low incidence of thyroid and colorectal cancer, and relatively high incidence of gastric and lung cancer compared to urban areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that there are some differences in cancer incidence by population size. Thyroid and colorectal cancer incidence was increasing, and gastric and lung cancer was slightly decreasing in urban areas, whereas gastric and lung cancer incidence still remains high in rural areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Haa-Na
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Se-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Go
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Sup
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yire
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Un Seok
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeong-Won
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hoon-Gu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yune Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011156:Population Density; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D066106:Seoul / Q000453:epidemiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Epidemiology; Korea; Rural population; Urbanization