Epidemiologic characteristics of cervical cancer in Korean women

Cervical cancer is the most common female genital tract malignancy in Korean women. Although age-standardized cancer incidence rate of cervical cancer has decreased from 18.6 per 100,000 women in 1999 to 12.3 per 100,000 women in 2010 in Korea with widespread routine screening, several epidemiologic characteristics are still present. Incidence of cervical cancer still varies according to geographic area, and a significant portion of cases are detected at a locoregionally advanced stage, without significant improvement of five-year survival rate. Cervical screening techniques such as the Pap smear should be the gold standard strategy to decrease incidence and to improve the survival outcomes of patients with cervical cancer. In addition, screening programs for cervical cancer should be designed, organized and directed within the context of a nationwide program for cancer control.