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Malignant tumours and psoriasis: a follow-up study
1Institute of Preventive Medicine, The Copenhagen Municipal Hospital, Oster Farimagsgade 5, DK-1399 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
The British Journal of Dermatology
|May 8, 1999
Summary
Patients with psoriasis face a 1.4x higher cancer risk, primarily skin and lung cancers. Non-melanoma skin cancers, especially squamous cell carcinoma, are most common, with elevated risks for both sexes.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with potential systemic implications.
- Previous studies suggest an association between psoriasis and an increased risk of certain cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term cancer incidence in a nationwide cohort of patients with psoriasis.
- To identify specific cancer types and risk patterns associated with psoriasis.
Main Methods:
- Nationwide follow-up study design.
- Analysis of cancer patterns in patients with psoriasis, with an average follow-up of 9.3 years post-hospital discharge.
- Calculation of standardized incidence ratios (SIR) to compare observed to expected cancer rates.
Main Results:
- Patients with psoriasis had a 1.4 times higher risk of cancer compared to the general population.
- Increased risks were observed for skin (non-melanoma), lung, pharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers.
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) showed significantly elevated SIRs, particularly SCC on lower extremities (SIR 18.0).
- Specific age and sex risk patterns were identified for BCC and SCC.
Conclusions:
- Psoriasis is associated with a significantly increased risk of specific malignancies, notably non-melanoma skin cancer.
- Healthcare providers should consider this elevated cancer risk when monitoring patients with psoriasis, especially those with extensive treatment histories.
- Further research into the mechanisms underlying this association is warranted.