Phototherapy and risk of childhood cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the scientific studies on the associations between phototherapy and risk of childhood cancer. Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched until March 28, 2020. In general, 11 studies were included in the meta-analyses. Subgroup analyses were performed on the types of cancers and children's age, and the sensitivity analysis was done to search for heterogeneity sources. Results: The findings of the meta-analysis show that phototherapy was significantly associated with an increased risk of all types of cancers (RR = 1.28; 95 CI (1.08, 1.51)). Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analyses indicated that neonatal phototherapy might be a possible risk factor for childhood cancer in general, and leukemia in particular. However, as the role of confounding factors were not controlled in many studies, future large cohorts are necessary in this regard. The findings of this study underscore the importance of greater adherence to scientific guidelines for thresholds of bilirubin for minimizing unnecessary exposure to phototherapy. © 2022 Neonatal Nurses Association