Is phototherapy in neonates a risk factor for malignant melanoma development?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether phototherapy of the newborn's sensitive skin could be a risk factor for malignant melanoma.


METHODS
Retrospective study from 1973 to 1992.


METHODS
The Swedish Medical Birth Registry and the Swedish Cancer Registry.


METHODS
Thirty cases of childhood malignant melanoma and 120 matched controls.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Data in birth and cancer reports and from death certificates in Sweden.


RESULTS
None of the patients with childhood malignant melanoma had received phototherapy, in comparison with 11 of the controls. This difference was not significant (P = .08; Fisher exact test).


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary report shows no significant risk of developing childhood malignant melanoma after phototherapy of the skin in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. However, the median follow-up time was only 18 years.
Berg
P
P
Division of Dermatology, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
Lindelöf
B
B
D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000628:therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology