Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0156 |
| Title: | Is phototherapy in neonates a risk factor for malignant melanoma development |
| Author(s): | Berg P, Lindelof B |
| Reference: | Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1997; 151: 1185-1187 |
| Place of Study: | Sweden |
| Abstract: | The interest of such a study is that the number of cases of malignant melanoma in adolescents has doubled during the past ten years. The objective of the study was to determine whether phototherapy ('bili-light') as a treatment of neonatal jaundice could be a risk factor for malignant melonoma. The authors studied 30 cases of malignant melanoma before age 18 and 120 matched controls. None of the patients with malignant melanoma had received phototherapy in comparison with 11 of the controls. This difference is not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Of the 30 cases 2 had been diagnosed as having hyperbilirubinaemia but none had undergone phototherapy. Of the 120 controls, 23 had diagnoses of disorders that might have been treated with phototherapy. 11 of them had undergone phototherapy. The average follow-up time was 18 years (range 10-19 years). The authors suggest the hypothesis that phototherapy could be a preventative factor for malignant melanoma. |
| Keyword(s): | malignant melanoma, neonatal jaundice, phototherapy |
| Discussion: | Why not propose the hypothesis that neonatal jaundice might be a protective factor for malignant melanoma? |
| See Also: | No related entries mentioned for this entry |
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