2023 North America Conference on Lung Cancer (NACLC) - Posters and Abstracts-PP01.21 (Poster) Five years of operation report on asbestos-related lung cancer surveillance system centered on general hospitals in South Korea

PP01.21 (Poster) Five years of operation report on asbestos-related lung cancer surveillance system centered on general hospitals in South Korea

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A report on the five-year operation of a surveillance system for asbestos-related lung cancer in South Korea's general hospitals was conducted. Asbestos is a well-known carcinogen that can cause fatal diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis after a long period of latency. However, the reported cases of asbestos-related lung cancer in Korea were significantly lower compared to mesothelioma cases. Therefore, the aim of the surveillance system was to identify lung cancer patients with asbestos-relatedness in clinical practice and include them in the national compensation system. <br /><br />The surveillance system was implemented from 2017 to 2022, with Seoul St. Mary's Hospital as the central center and university hospitals in each region of South Korea participating annually. Radiologists at the participating hospitals received training on the imaging findings of asbestos-related lung cancer and reported suspected cases to the clinical department. Further evaluation and assistance with compensation claims were provided by the Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) department. <br /><br />The effectiveness of the surveillance system was evaluated by comparing the detection rates of asbestos-relatedness before and after its implementation. The results showed higher detection rates of asbestos-related lung cancer during the surveillance period. The proportion of asbestos-related lung cancer varied by region, with higher rates in regions with former asbestos mines or a high ratio of slate houses. The estimated results of asbestos-related lung cancer rates can be used to assess the causes of lung cancer in Korea. <br /><br />A total of 25 university hospitals participated in the surveillance system, and the detection rates of asbestos-related lung cancer increased in all five years. The patients were categorized into those with environmental exposure and occupational exposure, and they were referred to the respective government departments for compensation claims. Overall, the surveillance system proved to be effective in detecting asbestos-related lung cancer cases in clinical practice, and the information collected can be used for etiological assessments and management of lung cancer patients in Korea.

Asset Subtitle

Min Young Park

Keywords

surveillance system

asbestos-related lung cancer

South Korea

general hospitals

mesothelioma

asbestosis

national compensation system

radiologists

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

detection rates