Incidence and Prevalence of Skin Cancers in South Korea from 2008 to 2016: A Nation-Wide Population Based Study

Background@#In South Korea, there have been few nationwide epidemiologic studies about premalignant actinic keratosis (AK), squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen’s disease), nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), malignant melanoma of the skin (MM), Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), connective and soft tissue cancers, or mycosis fungoides (MF). @*Objective@#Using a nationwide population-based study, we attempted to measure the incidence and the prevalence of the above-mentioned tumors in South Korea. @*Methods@#The database we used included all claims in the Korean National Health Insurance program and the Korean Medical Aid program from 2008 to 2016. The International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) was used to record diagnoses in this database. This data included AK, Bowen’s disease, NMSC, MM, KS, connective and soft tissue cancers, and MF. @*Results@#The age-standardized incidence and prevalence rate of AK, Bowen’s disease, NMSC, MM, KS, connective and soft tissue cancers, as well as MF increased during the periods we investigated. The incidence and prevalence rate of AK and NMSC have increased two- to three-fold. In the case of Bowen’s disease, MM, KS, connective and soft tissue cancers, or MF, we observed no significant tendency in age-standardized incidence or prevalence. @*Conclusion@#We confirmed that the age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates of NMSC and AK tended to increase. These results might contribute to developing preventive and therapeutic strategies for skin cancers and may become a source for further studies.

Estimating the medical capacity required to administer mass prophylaxis: a hypothetical outbreak of smallpox virus infection in Korea / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The aim of this study was to estimate the medical surge capacity required for mass prophylaxis based on a hypothetical outbreak of smallpox.@*METHODS@#We performed a simulation using the Bioterrorism and Epidemic Outbreak Response Model and varied some important parameters, such as the number of core medical personnel and the number of dispensing clinics.@*RESULTS@#Gaps were identified in the medical surge capacity of the Korean government, especially in the number of medical personnel who could respond to the need for mass prophylaxis against smallpox.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The Korean government will need to train 1,000 or more medical personnel for such an event, and will need to prepare many more dispensing centers than are currently available.

Estimating the medical capacity required to administer mass prophylaxis: a hypothetical outbreak of smallpox virus infection in Korea / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the medical surge capacity required for mass prophylaxis based on a hypothetical outbreak of smallpox.METHODS: We performed a simulation using the Bioterrorism and Epidemic Outbreak Response Model and varied some important parameters, such as the number of core medical personnel and the number of dispensing clinics.RESULTS: Gaps were identified in the medical surge capacity of the Korean government, especially in the number of medical personnel who could respond to the need for mass prophylaxis against smallpox.CONCLUSIONS: The Korean government will need to train 1,000 or more medical personnel for such an event, and will need to prepare many more dispensing centers than are currently available.

A Case of Cutaneous Neurofibroma Intimately Contacted with Intrathoracic and Chest Wall Plexiform Neurofibroma in Von Recklinghausen's Disease

Congenital neurofibromatosis type 1, or Von Recklinghausen's disease is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by neurofibroma, pigmented skin lesions (Cafe-au-lait macules), iris hamartomas and meningeal tumors, but rarely, by autonomic ganglia tumors, such as pheochromocytomas. We have experienced an intrathoracic and chest wall plexiform neurofibroma intimately contacted with collagenoma-like, dome-shaped skin lesions of type 1 neurofibromatosis, which are relatively rare and interesting, but can be regarded as typical findings in neurofibromatosis. Although intrathoracic neurogenic tumors are not uncommon, cases like ours are interesting, as the feature of collagenoma-like skin neurofibroma was very closely apposited with chest wall neurofibroma. Our case had no aypical features of malignancy and the patient was clinically followed up without recurrence.