We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Cancer in patients treated with coal tar: a long-term follow up study.
- Abstract
Background: Coal tar is often used in dermatological therapy, although it is a recognized tumor initiator. Previous studies with observation periods of up to 25 years have not shown any increased risk of cancer in these patients, hut no longer term follow up is available although the induction period for cancer is not known. Objective: To evaluate the relative risk of cancer in a group of patients who had been treated extensively with coal tar in the period 1917-1937. Method: The medical records of 117 patients treated extensively with coal tar from 1917 to 1937 were examined. Of these, a cohort, of 88 patients (75%) were eligible for study. Cancers were identified through the Danish Cancer Registry, and relative risk of cancer in this cohort was calculated. Results: The overall relative risk of cancer for the treated patients was found to be 0.4 (0.2-0.8). Conclusion: No overall increased risk of cancer was apparent in this group compared to that of the general population. These data provide further support of the safety of coal tar in the management of dermatological disease.
- Subjects
SKIN diseases; CANCER patients; MEDICAL care; COAL-tar colors; TUMORS; DERMATOLOGY
- Publication
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology, 1994, Vol 3, Issue 2, p153
- ISSN
0926-9959
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1468-3083.1994.tb00090.x