Risk of cancer in patients with scleroderma

Abstract

The data suggesting a link between Scl and cancer are not overwhelming, but there is probably a modest increase in risk, particularly of lung cancer, in patients with diffuse disease and associated pulmonary fibrosis. By contrast, there does not seem to be a convincing and biologically coherent case for a non-specific increased risk of malignancy in patients with Scl. Given that the lung status of patients with diffuse disease is already regularly monitored, these conclusions do not suggest any additional screening is necessary.