HS Linked to Higher Cancer Risk - Summary - MDSpire

HS Linked to Higher Cancer Risk

  • By

  • Kathryn Wighton

  • April 6, 2026

  • 3 min

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Objective:

To evaluate the association between hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and cancer risk compared to the general population, focusing on specific cancer types.

Key Findings:
  • Patients with HS had 1.82 times the odds of developing cancer compared to the general population (unadjusted).
  • Elevated risks were observed for head and neck cancers (2.41 times), respiratory cancers (1.81 times), hematologic malignancies (1.71 times), and gastrointestinal cancer (1.61 times).
  • Increased odds for Hodgkin lymphoma (2.44 times) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (1.15 times) were noted (unadjusted).
  • Certain cancers, including bone, soft-tissue, breast, CNS, urogenital, and unspecified cancers, showed no increased risk.
Interpretation:

The findings suggest a multifactorial relationship between HS and cancer risk, potentially influenced by inflammation, comorbid conditions, and other factors.

Limitations:
  • Limited adjustments for confounders such as smoking, obesity, and alcohol use.
  • Inconsistent reporting of key variables like body mass index and ethnicity.
  • Incomplete reporting of cancer subtypes and disease severity.
Conclusion:

Having HS is associated with an increased risk of cancer overall, including specific subtypes, compared to controls.

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