Epidemiol Health.  2015;37:e2015015. 10.4178/epih/e2015015.

Epidemiological evidences on overdiagnosis of prostate and kidney cancers in Korean

• Bae JM

• KMID: 2380652
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2015015

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The prostate specific antigen test is widely used as the main method of screening prostate cancer in Korea. Additionally, the use of ultrasound sonography may lead to overdiagnosis of kidney cancer as well as thyroid cancer. This study aimed to highlight epidemiological evidences regarding overdiagnosis of prostate and kidney cancers in Korean.
METHODS
The annual trends of national incidence and mortality of prostate and kidney cancers provided by the Korean Statistical Information Service were evaluated.
RESULTS
The rate of increase in the incidence of prostate and kidney cancer was 6 and 5 times higher than that of mortality between 2000 and 2011, respectively. Additionally, the age group showing the highest incidence in prostate cancer shifted from 85 years and older to 75-79 years.
CONCLUSIONS
This evidence suggests that prostate and kidney cancers are overdiagnosed in Korea. Further research in this area, using national cancer registry databases, should be encouraged to prevent overdiagnosis.

Keyword

Prostatic neoplasms; Kidney neoplasms; Cancer screening; Incidence; Disease progression

MeSH Terms

Disease Progression
Early Detection of Cancer
Humans
Incidence
Information Services
Kidney Neoplasms*
Kidney*
Korea
Mass Screening
Mortality
Prostate*
Prostate-Specific Antigen
Prostatic Neoplasms
Thyroid Neoplasms
Ultrasonography
Prostate-Specific Antigen