Objective: To investigate the recent incidence of and trends in cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer in Korean females.
Methods: Data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry between 1999 and 2010 were analyzed. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) and annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated.
Results: THE ABSOLUTE INCIDENCE RATES OF THE THREE MAJOR GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS INCREASED: 6,394 in 1999 to 7,454 in 2010. The ASR for gynecologic cancer was 23.7 per 100,000 in 1999 and decreased to 21.0 in 2010 (APC, -1.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.53 to -0.70) due to a definitive decrease in the incidence of cervical cancer (APC, -4.3%). Endometrial cancer has been definitively increasing (APC, 6.9% during 1999-2010), especially in females <30 years old (APC, 11.2%) and in females ≥80 years old (APC, 9.5%). The incidence of ovarian cancer is increasing gradually (APC, 1.5%).
Conclusion: ASRs and APC for gynecologic cancers overall are decreasing due to the decrease in the incidence of cervical cancer. However, the incidence of endometrial and ovarian cancer has been increasing.
Keywords: Cancer; Cervix uteri; Endometrium; Korea; Ovary.