Language

English

Publication Date

4-1-2025

Journal

Cancer Epidemiology

DOI

10.1016/j.canep.2025.102748

PMID

39848200

PMCID

PMC12977284

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

3-12-2026

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Background: Birth defects are associated with childhood cancer, but little is known regarding pediatric carcinomas, a group of especially rare tumors.

Methods: We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for any carcinoma, as well as thyroid, hepatocellular, and renal carcinoma specifically, up to 18 years of age among children with major, non-syndromic anomalies or chromosomal/genetic syndromes, relative to unaffected children.

Results: Our registry-linkage study included nine states and 21,933,476 children between 1990 and 2018: 641,827 with non-syndromic anomalies, and 49,619 with syndromes. Carcinomas were diagnosed in 833 children, including 35 with non-syndromic anomalies and eight with syndromes. The hazard of carcinoma was increased both among children with non-syndromic anomalies (HR: 1.7, CI: 1.2-2.4; N = 35) and syndromes (HR: 4.7, CI: 2.3-9.5; N = 7). Hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with non-syndromic anomalies (HR: 4.6, CI: 2.2-9.7; N = 8) and syndromes (HR: 8.0, CI: 1.1-58.1; N < 5). The hazard of renal carcinoma was markedly increased in children with tuberous sclerosis (HR 59.6, CI: 23.7-149.5; N = 5), a known cause of renal cancer. Thyroid carcinoma was not associated with non-syndromic anomalies or syndromes.

Conclusion: Birth defects are associated with hepatocellular and renal carcinoma in children.

Keywords

Humans, Child, Adolescent, Female, Male, Congenital Abnormalities, Child, Preschool, Registries, Infant, Liver Neoplasms, Kidney Neoplasms, Thyroid Neoplasms, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Infant, Newborn, Risk Factors, United States, Proportional Hazards Models, birth defects, congenital anomalies, carcinoma, childhood cancer, epidemiology

Published Open-Access

yes

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