Journal article
Incidence of malignancy in systemic sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism, Vol.79, 153006
08/2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2026.153006
PMID: 42322931
Abstract
SSc is associated with increased malignancy risk, a growing cause of mortality in SSc. However, standardised incidence ratios (SIR) vary widely across studies and different malignancy subtypes. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the SIR of different malignancy subtypes and the temporal relationship with SSc diagnosis.
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by searching Embase, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases from inception to 7 December 2024. Cohort studies reporting SIRs of malignancies in SSc patients were included. Studies where SIR was not reported were excluded. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled estimates, while study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. This review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023445876).
Thirty-one cohort studies comprising at least 32,134 SSc patients were included. Overall malignancy risk was significantly increased (SIR 1.66; 95% CI 1.32 - 2.08). Highest risks were observed for esophageal, liver, cervical, lung, and haematological malignancies (SIR 3.35 - 13.95), while breast malignancy showed modest increased risk (SIR 1.34, 95% CI 1.00 - 1.80) that was not statistically significant. High-quality studies confirmed these associations except for esophageal malignancy, with only one high quality study for liver malignancy. There was a mean interval of 7.4 years (95% CI 5.3 - 9.5) between SSc and malignancy diagnosis.
Our findings confirm an increased malignancy risk, particularly lung, haematological and cervical malignancies, and an approximate 7-year interval between SSc diagnosis and malignancy development. Further studies are needed to clarify the risk factors for different malignancy subtypes to develop cancer screening strategies.
NIL
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Incidence of malignancy in systemic sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Creators
- Wei Shan Teoh - National University HospitalJaivikash Raghupathy - National University HospitalAbhiram Kanneganti - National University HospitalHanis Abdul Kadir - Singapore General HospitalGim Gee Teng - National University of SingaporePearl Shuang Ye Tong - Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, SingaporeLauren V Host - Fiona Stanley HospitalKathleen Morrisroe - St Vincent's Hospital MelbourneMandana Nikpour - Royal Prince Alfred HospitalAndrea Hsiu Ling Low - Singapore General HospitalCorrado Campochiaro - Vita-Salute San Raffaele UniversityPatricia E. Carreira - Rheumatology Department, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, SpainFlavia Castelino - Harvard Medical SchoolBenjamin Chaigne - Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de ParisLorinda Chung - Stanford University School of MedicineChris Derk - University of PennsylvaniaMuriel Elhai - University Hospital of ZurichSabrina Hoa - Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de MontréalLauren V. Host - Fiona Stanley HospitalMichael HughesKareem Jamani - University of CalgaryMichael Macklin - University of ChicagoVoon Ong - Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, United KingdomMo Osman - University of CalgaryMatthew J.S. Parker - Department of Rheumatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaJohn Pauling - University of BathLaurence Poirier-Balnchette - Université de MontréalSusanna Proudman - Royal Adelaide Hospital, Rheumatology Unit, Adelaide, South Australia, The University of Adelaide, Department of Medicine, Adelaide, South AustraliaMislav Radić - University of SplitJoanne Sahhar - Monash UniversityMuditha Samaranayaka - Department of Rheumatology, Northern Care Alliance, Salford Royal, UKAmi Shah - Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDaniel Tan - National Cancer Centre SingaporeHanna Zembrzuska - University of IowaContributing Members of the SCTC Cancer Working Group
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism, Vol.79, 153006
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2026.153006
- PMID
- 42322931
- NLM abbreviation
- Semin Arthritis Rheum
- ISSN
- 0049-0172
- eISSN
- 1532-866X
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc; PHILADELPHIA
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 06/07/2026
- Date published
- 08/2026
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Immunology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9985176646402771
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