A LARGE-scale study has found no increased overall cancer risk in patients with vitiligo, challenging previous inconsistent findings on the topic. Researchers analysed the health records of 25,008 vitiligo patients and 245,550 matched controls using data from the Clalit Health Services database spanning 2000 to 2023.
The study aimed to evaluate whether vitiligo, a condition characterised by skin depigmentation, is associated with an elevated risk of cancer. The results showed similar cancer incidence rates between patients with vitiligo and those without, with adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of 1.00, indicating no increased risk overall.
However, patients with vitiligo exhibited a reduced risk of certain cancers. Specifically, they had lower risks for melanoma (adjusted HR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.50–0.99; P=0.0337), lung cancer (adjusted HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.57–0.93; P=0.007), and bladder cancer (adjusted HR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52–0.94; P=0.0138).
The study’s findings suggest that vitiligo does not elevate the overall risk of cancer, and cancer screening for patients with vitiligo should follow standard guidelines used for the general population. While the results are promising, the researchers noted some limitations, including multiple comparisons that could influence the findings.
This study provides valuable insight for clinicians, indicating that while vitiligo patients should be monitored according to routine guidelines, they may not require additional cancer-specific screening.
Helena Bradbury, EMJ
Reference
Schonmann Y et al. Evaluating cancer risk in a large cohort of 25,008 patients with vitiligo: Insights from a comprehensive cohort population-based study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;S0190-9622(24):03284-5.
