Risk of cancer among patients with herpes zoster infection

Abstract

"This population-based study shows that herpes zoster does not increase the overall risk of cancer in the general population. Among the subgroups stratified by sex, age and years of follow-up, there was no increased overall risk of cancer. These findings suggest that the extensive investigations for occult cancer at the time of diagnosis of herpes zoster or enhanced surveillance for cancer after such a diagnosis is unnecessary."