Occupational sun exposure and mycosis fungoides: a European multicenter case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to study the association between occupational sun exposure and mycosis fungoides (MF), a peripheral T-cell lymphoma.


METHODS
A European multicenter case-control study including seven rare cases (one being MF) was conducted between 1995 and 1997. From the 118 accepted cases, 104 were interviewed, of which 76 were definite cases. Population controls were selected randomly from the regions of case ascertainment. Information based on occupational experiences was coded according to industry types. A job exposure matrix was created according to the expected exposure to sunlight.


RESULTS
Once exposures to aromatic halogenated hydrocarbons were eliminated (odds ratio = 2.3; 95% confidence interval = 0.9-6.2), a high MF risk was associated with exposures to solar radiation.


CONCLUSIONS
It would appear that workers exposed to sunlight have a higher risk of MF. However, this factor is not the only one involved.
Morales-Suárez-Varela
Maria M
MM
Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Valencia, Spain. morales_man@gva.es
Olsen
Jorn
J
Johansen
Preben
P
Kaerlev
Linda
L
Guénel
Pascal
P
Arveux
Patrick
P
Wingren
Gun
G
Hardell
Lennart
L
Ahrens
Wolfgang
W
Stang
Andreas
A
Llopis
Agustin
A
Merletti
Franco
F
Guillen-Grima
Francisco
F
Masala
Giovanna
G
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010858:Pigmentation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight