Cancer risk among patients with finger and hand joint and temporo-mandibular joint prostheses in Denmark

The use of artificial joint implants has risen greatly over the past years. However, few investigations of the cancer risk associated with implants ha ve been performed. We investigated cancer risk in patients with finger and hand joint and temporo-mandibular (TMI) joint implants. A nationwide cohort in Denmark of patients with finger and hand joint prostheses (n = 858) or TMI implants (n = 389) was followed from January 1, 1977, to December 31, 1 995, to evaluate any potential cancer risks subsequent to receiving these i mplants. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for all cancers were 1.0 (95% CI = 0.8-1.2) for the finger and hand joint cohort and 1.1 (95% CI = 0.8-1 .7) for the TMJ cohort. A significant risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was f ound in the finger and hand joint cohort (SIR = 3.8, 95% CI = 1.5-7.8). Whe n the finger and hand joint cohort was stratified by diagnosis of rheumatoi d arthritis, the excess risk was seen only in the group with rheumatoid art hritis. This is consistent with past studies, which have found an associati on between rheumatoid arthritis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Our results pro vide evidence that the cancer risk for patients with finger and hand joint prostheses and TMI implants is similar to that for the general population. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.