Patients with multiple sclerosis may be more likely to develop cancer than the general population, especially respiratory, urinary and central nervous system cancers, according to a large Norwegian study.

Patient records from nearly 6900 patients with MS, 9000 siblings without MS, and 38,000 population controls were used in the analysis, with results adjusted for age, gender, residence and education.

During 65 years of follow-up, the overall cancer risk in the MS cohort was 14% higher than in non-MS population controls.

People with MS had a 66% higher risk of respiratory cancer, a 52% higher risk of central nervous system cancer and a 51% higher risk of urinary cancer, Dr Nina Grytten (PhD) from Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway, told delegates at the European Academy of Neurology’s congress in Oslo last month.