XXXX in Korea: characteristics and trends.

@entity1 @entity5 @entity14 @entity694 @entity420
AIMS AND BACKGROUND: @entity14 is the fourth leading cause of @entity5 in Korea. However, there have been few reports concerning the clinical or pathological characteristics of @entity1 in this area. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics and trends of @entity14 in Korea. METHODS: The 1,468 @entity1 with a histologic diagnoses of @entity14 between 1990 and 1997 at the Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, were retrospectively examined. The data source was the medical record database of the Hospital. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was younger than in Western countries (57.4 years for @entity694 and 55.6 years for @entity5 ). @entity5 was found to be more frequent than @entity694 . However, the proportion of @entity694 has been steadily increasing with time. The changes in the colon-to-rectal ratio mainly arose from an increase in left-sided @entity694 . Moderately differentiated @entity420 was also increasing. @entity694 @entity1 demonstrated a more advanced stage than the @entity5 @entity1 . Surgery was performed in 93.7% of the @entity1 as a first course of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of Korean @entity14 @entity1 were remarkably different from those seen in Western countries in age and primary @entity5 site distribution. However, the differences were less evident with time. A nationwide population-based registry is required to confirm the results of the study.
