Skin cancer in patients with psoriasis treated with coal tar. A 25-year follow-up study

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · Arch. Dermatol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.1981.01650080019020· OSTI ID:5455086

Pittelkow, M R; Perry, H O; Muller, S A; Maughan, W Z; O'Brien, P C

For many years, crude coal tar has been used for the treatment of psoriasis. The possible carcinogenic effect of crude coal tar and ultraviolet (UV) radiation (Goeckerman regimen), considered individually or in combination, has been of some concern to physicians. A 25-year follow-up study was completed on 280 patients with psoriasis who were hospitalized and treated with crude coal tar and UV radiation at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, during the years 1950 through 1954. The results of this study suggest that the incidence of skin cancer is not appreciably increased above the expected incidence for the general population when patients are treated with coal tar ointments. It seems that the Goeckerman regimen (topical crude coal tar combined with UV radiation) can be used with minimal risk for skin cancer in the treatment of psoriasis.

• OSTI ID: 5455086
• Journal Information: Arch. Dermatol.; (United States), Vol. 117:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
COAL TAR
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PSORIASIS
CHEMOTHERAPY
CARCINOGENESIS
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
NEOPLASMS
PATIENTS
SKIN
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
BODY
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
RADIATIONS
SKIN DISEASES
SURVEILLANCE
TAR
THERAPY
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
550600 - Medicine