Is neonatal phototherapy associated with a greater risk of childhood cancers?

Abstract

Background Neonatal phototherapy (NNPT) has long been used as an effective and relatively safe method of treating neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Considering the subsequent evidence of long-term impacts of NNPT such as malignancies, this study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between NNPT and childhood cancers. Methods This case-control study assessed 116 children up to 4 years old with every kind of cancer referred to the Oncology department of Afzalipour hospital, Kerman, Iran, from 2011 to 18. Moreover, 116 pediatric patients without cancer hospitalized at the same Center were included after sex and age matching as the control group. The history of phototherapy and its duration were evaluated in these two groups. Results We found no association between the NNPT and malignancies in children. However, high intensive phototherapy was higher historically among affected cancerous patients than in non-cancerous cases without any statistically significant difference (25% vs 19%; P = 0.26). Maternal educational level and history of maternal infection during pregnancy, which initially appeared to be two factors associated with malignancy in single variable regression analyses, were not significant based on the adjusted models. Conclusions The results did not show a positive correlation between NNPT and childhood cancers, which may partly be due to the relatively small sample size of the study. However, some other evidence is worrisome enough that NNPT should not be considered risk-free. Additional multi-centric studies should be undertaken to specify that phototherapy is really safe.

Neonatal Phototherapy Adverse Effects in Infants: A Scoping Review

“…The study results indicated that no correlation was found between neonatal phototherapy and childhood cancers. 22 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Three studies were included that explored either ADHD or ASDs. A retrospective observational study by Wei, et al explored the adverse outcome of ADHD due to neonatal phototherapy.…”

“…Although two of the included studies showed significant results with increased risk of childhood cancers, 20,6 two of the studies demonstrated no increased risk. 21,22 As the role of confounding factors were not controlled in the four studies included in this scoping review, studies, future large cohorts are necessary in this regard. In addition, exploring the risk of cancer as an adverse outcome of neonatal phototherapy in a wider age range might present a clearer understanding of childhood cancers as a risk from neonatal phototherapy.…”

Comparison of the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid and multistrain synbiotic on indirect hyperbilirubinemia among neonates treated with phototherapy: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial study

“…Moreover, many hypotheses have been raised about the increased risk of melanoma progression during phototherapy. [ 6 7 8 ]…”