The Clinical Utilization of Radiation Therapy in Korea between 2013 and 2018

• Published in: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Vol. 111; no. 3; pp. e347 - e348
• Main Authors: Jang, W.I., Kim, E., Kim, M.S., Kim, H., Yoon, J.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.11.2021
• ISSN: 0360-3016; 1879-355X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.07.1046

Radiation Therapy (RT) is one of the primary cancer treatment modalities. This study was performed to investigate the clinical utilization of RT in Korea. Data extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service were reviewed. Patients with diseases corresponding to codes C00−C97 or D00−D48 (the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision, cancer diagnostic codes) and underwent RT were included. The total number of patients treated with RT in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were 62,696, 64,980, 67,185, 73,686, 77,913, and 81,818, respectively. The total number of male and female patients were 28,572/34,124 in 2013; 29,813/35,167 in 2014; 30,828/36,357 in 2015; 33,500/40,186 in 2016; 35,421/42,492 in 2017; and 37,390/44,428 in 2018. The utilization rate of RT in cancer patients has also increased steadily over the same period from 24.8% to 30.2%. The five cancers that were most commonly treated with RT in 2018 were breast, lung, colorectal, liver, and prostate cancer. According to analyses of specific treatment modalities, the number of patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT), and proton therapy increased from 6,774, 6,653, and 33 in 2013 to 37,109, 11,107, and 1,154 in 2018, respectively. On the other hand, brachytherapy was performed in 1,400 cases in 2013, but in 1,351 cases in 2018. The number of patients receiving IMRT increased from 6,774 (10.8%) in 2013 to 37,109 (45.4%) in 2018. The number of patients who underwent RT increased steadily from 2013 to 2018 in Korea. Recently, the IMRT utilization rate remarkably increased and the number of patients treated with advanced treatment modalities such as IMRT, SRT and proton therapy is expected to increase.