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Occupational Exposures and Mycosis Fungoides. A European Multicentre Case–control Study (Europe)

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Abstract

Objectives: Mycosis Fungoides (MF) is a rare disease with an occurrence indicating that occupational exposures may play a role. To estimate the association between MF and occupational exposures as measured by means of an job-exposure matrix (JEM).

Methods: A European multicenter case–control study was conducted from 1995 to 1997 and included seven rare cancers, one of which was MF. Patients between 35 and 69 years of age, diagnosed with MF (n=140), were recruited and the diagnoses were checked by a reference pathologist who classified 83 cases as definite, 35 cases as possible and 22 cases as not accepted. Among the 118 accepted cases, 104 cases were interviewed, of which 76 were definite cases. We selected population controls and colon cancer controls to serve all seven case groups. Altogether 833 colon cancer controls and 2071 population controls were interviewed. Based on the reported occupational experiences, a team of industrial hygiene specialists identified five potential exposures and developed an JEM. This JEM was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for MF as a function of these exposures. The JEM included aromatic and/or halogenated hydrocarbons (AAHs), chrome (VI) and its salts, electromagnetic radiations, silica and pesticides.

Results: Exposures to AHHs (OR 6.3, C.I 2.4–16.7 for male) were associated with a high MF risk.

Conclusions: The study supports the hypothesis that some MFs have an occupational etiology but only a small fraction of exposed workers are apparently susceptible since the disease is so rare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care, University of Valencia, Spain

    Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela & Agustin Llopis

  2. Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Dr. Peset University Hospital, Valencia, Spain

    Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela

  3. The Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, University of Aarhus, Denmark

    Jorn Olsen & Linda Kaerlev

  4. Institute of Pathology, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

    Preben Johansen

  5. INSERM Unité 170, Villejuif, France

    Pascal Guénel

  6. Registre des cancers du Doubs, France

    Patrick Arveux

  7. Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden

    Gun Wingren

  8. Department of Oncology, Orebro Medical Centre, Sweden

    Lennart Hardell

  9. Division of Biometry and Data Processing, Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine, Bremen, Germany

    Wolfgang Ahrens

  10. Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology University Clinic Essen, Germany

    Wolfgang Ahrens & Andreas Stang

  11. Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, CERMS and Centre for Oncologic Prevention, University of Turin, Italy

    Franco Merletti

  12. Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of the Basque Country, Spain

    Juan Jose Aurrekoetxea

  13. Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, CSPO, Scientific Institute of Tuscany, Florence, Italy

    Giovanna Masala

  14. Department of Preventive Medicine, Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care, University of Valencia, Avda, Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100, Burjasot, Valencia, Spain

    Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela

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  1. Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela
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  2. Jorn Olsen
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  3. Preben Johansen
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Correspondence to Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela.

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Morales-Suárez-Varela, M.M., Olsen, J., Johansen, P. et al. Occupational Exposures and Mycosis Fungoides. A European Multicentre Case–control Study (Europe). Cancer Causes Control 16, 1253–1259 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-0456-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-0456-6

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