Occupational sun exposure and mycosis fungoides: a European multicenter case-control study

Abstract

Objective: We sought to study the association between occupational sun exposure and mycosis fungoides (MF), a peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

Subjects and 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.

Conclusion: It would appear that workers exposed to sunlight have a higher risk of MF. However, this factor is not the only one involved.