Cancer Registry for Primary Liver Cancer

Wang, Hee Jung

Abstract

In Korea, nation-wide statistical data on patients who have received therapy for primary liver cancer or its natural history is non-existent. Moreover, various local treatment methods for hepatoma such as percutaneous alcohol injection therapy, microwave coagulation therapy, and radiofrequency ablation therapy are being performed without a period of verification or consensus. This has led to a lack of uniformity not only in establishing the initial mode of therapy for hepatomas, but also among various institutions, and also a tendency for conflict rather than synergy among the various treatment modalities. Therefore, there exists a dire need for a national cancer registry for hepatoma. Fortunately, as a first step, the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group was established in June of 1999 to arrive at a consensus and hence overcome these problems, and to establish an environment for co-operation between institutions. In June of 2001 "The general rules for the study of primary liver cancer" was published which successfully lay down the groundwork for the promulgation of a national registry. With the above mentioned Korean Liver Cancer Study Group acting a central role, this author attempts to describe present status of database of the Cancer Registry for Hepatoma which has been completed after a year and a half, and also to explain its characteristics and implementation.