# Evaluation of the Incidence of Malignancy in Sjögren's Syndrome: A Single-Center Study From Turkey

## TL;DR

This study finds that people with Sjögren's syndrome in Turkey have a higher risk of developing certain cancers, especially lymphoma and thyroid cancer.

## Contribution

The study provides cancer incidence data specific to Sjögren's syndrome patients in Turkey, highlighting elevated risks for certain malignancies.

## Key findings

- SS patients had a 2.25-fold higher overall cancer risk compared to the general population.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma showed the highest risk with an SIR of 11.76.
- Papillary thyroid cancer had an SIR of 8.43, and lymphopenia was linked to higher cancer risk.

## Abstract

Objective: Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is known to be associated with an elevated cancer incidence. This study aimed to ascertain SS patients’ cancer incidence rates and risk variables at a single center in Turkey.

Methods: The clinical data of SS patients were analyzed retrospectively. Cancer incidences for the overall population were obtained. The standardized incidence rates (SIRs) of hematological and solid cancers were calculated in comparison with the overall population.

Results: The study included 303 SS patients, of whom 27 (8.9%) were diagnosed with cancer. Twenty-one solid (6.9%) and six (2%) hematologic cancers were identified. The SIR for all cancers was 2.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.513-3.228). The SIR for hematologic cancers was 7.22 (95% CI 2.93-5.04), while the SIR for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), the most prevalent malignancy, was 11.76 (95% CI 3.73-28.38). The most prevalent malignancies were papillary thyroid and breast cancers, with a SIR of 3.04 (95% CI 1.937-4.58) for solid cancers. The SIR for both papillary thyroid and breast cancers was 8.43 (95% CI 3.689-16.68) and 1.85 (95% CI 0.687-4.105), respectively. A higher risk has also been linked to the presence of lymphopenia.

Conclusion: SS patients exhibit an increased risk of both solid and hematologic malignancies compared to the total population. This study reveals an increased risk of NHL and thyroid cancer in the Turkish population.