Extract
To the Editor:
A link between sarcoidosis and malignancy was suggested by in 1972 Brincker, and subsequently supported by several studies. However, the existing studies have different short-comings, and the causation between co-existing sarcoidosis and cancer is still being debated.
Initial misdiagnosis of cancer as sarcoidosis may explain a short-term increased cancer risk 6. In addition, the clinical examinations at routine control visits increase the chance of detecting a malignant tumour (surveillance bias). Chronic inflammation or a dysregulated immune system accompanying sarcoidosis may be the biological mechanism behind an increased long-term cancer risk. Moreover, sarcoidosis treatment with immunosuppressive agents may increase the risk of later immune-related cancers.
We conducted a nationwide cohort study in Denmark (5.5 million residents) and examined the long-term risk of cancer among patients with a hospital-based diagnosis of sarcoidosis. We aimed to estimate potential influence of surveillance bias and immune suppression, thereby adding to the existing literature.
The Danish National Health Service provides free access to hospitals including outpatient clinics, and reimbursement for prescription drugs for all residents.
We used the Danish National Registry of Patients to identify all patients with an inpatient or outpatient diagnosis of sarcoidosis (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) revision 8
- Received January 14, 2014.
- Accepted June 15, 2014.
- ©ERS