Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  2022 Apr;32(1):13-15. 10.46246/KJAsEM.220002.

A Study on the Prevalence of Cancer Disease among Aviation Workers in Korea with Aviation Medical Examination of the Years from 2013 to 2015

• Jang J

• KMID: 2539361
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.46246/KJAsEM.220002

Abstract

Purpose
The medical certification for pilots is required by the aviation safety authority based with the aviation safety act.
Methods
In this study, aeromedical decision results according to aviation medical examination of the years from 2013 to 2015 were reviewed by retrospective analysis.
Results
Data from a cumulative total of 19,459 cases were screened. Of these, 15% were determined to be fit with condition. Among them, 259 were diagnosed with cancer. The ratios by cancer type are as follows: the most common cancer was thyroid cancer (39.7%), followed by gastric cancer (12.1%), kidney cancer (7.9%), colorectal cancer (7.9%), skin cancer (7.9%), prostate cancer (7.5%), lymphoma/leukemia (5.9%), lung cancer (5.0%), head and neck cancer (2.5%), and other cancers (2.5%).
Conclusion
The number of aircrew with cancer tends to increase slightly every year. The most common cause of thyroid cancer seems to be due to excessive diagnostic activity.

Keyword

Aviation; Physical examination; Cancer prevailence