SUNLAMP USE AND THE RISK OF CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT-MELANOMA - A POPULATION-BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN CONNECTICUT, USA

Background The relationship between cutaneous malignant melanoma and s unlamp use is examined in a Caucasian population in Connecticut, Unite d States. Methods Cases were diagnosed between 15 January 1987 and 15 May 1987 with a first primary cutaneous melanoma. Controls were obtain ed from the general population, frequency matched to cases by sex and age, through random digit dialling of Connecticut telephone numbers. R esults Of all study subjects, 141 (23%) cases and 95 (19%) controls re ported ever having used sunlamps. The crude odds ratio (OR) for develo ping malignant melanoma after ever having used sunlamps was 1.30 (95% confidence interval [CI] :0.97-1.74). This was reduced to 1.13 (95% CI :0.82-1.54) after further adjusting for cutaneous phenotype and recrea tional sun exposure. Those who used more than one type of sunlamp had a threefold higher risk for melanoma compared to never users. Subgroup analyses showed that sunlamp use was associated with a greater increa se in risk for melanoma among those who used sunlamps at home and thos e who were first exposed to sunlamps prior to 1971. The first use of s unlamps before the age of 25 showed somewhat higher risk for melanoma compared to first use later in life. Conclusion The current study prov ides limited evidence that use of sunlamps increases the risk of melan oma. For future studies, it is crucial that type of sunlamp, year of f irst use and amount of exposure are all taken into account. The associ ation between melanoma and tanning with both UV-A and UV-B lamps and t anning under sunlamps early in life merits further investigation.