title: Cancer risk among patients with finger and hand joint and temporo-mandibular joint prostheses in Denmark.
abstract: The use of artificial joint implants has risen greatly over the past years. However, few investigations of the cancer risk associated with implants have been performed. We investigated cancer risk in patients with finger and hand joint and temporo-mandibular (TMJ) joint implants. A nationwide cohort in Denmark of patients with finger and hand joint prostheses (n = 858) or TMJ implants (n = 389) was followed from January 1, 1977, to December 31, 1995, to evaluate any potential cancer risks subsequent to receiving these implants. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for all cancers were 1.0 (95% CI = 0.8-1.2) for the finger and hand joint cohort and 1.1 (95% CI = 0.8-1.7) for the TMJ cohort. A significant risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was found in the finger and hand joint cohort (SIR = 3.8, 95% CI = 1.5-7.8). When the finger and hand joint cohort was stratified by diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, the excess risk was seen only in the group with rheumatoid arthritis. This is consistent with past studies, which have found an association between rheumatoid arthritis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Our results provide evidence that the cancer risk for patients with finger and hand joint prostheses and TMJ implants is similar to that for the general population.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint