No increased risk of carcinogenesis with mesh-based hernia repairs.

Overview

BACKGROUND: The use of synthetic mesh has been placed under considerable scrutiny. We sought to evaluate whether there is a link between placement of synthetic polypropylene mesh for hernia repair and a subsequent cancer diagnosis. METHODS: Adult men undergoing mesh-based hernia repair from January 2008-December 2009 in New York State were identified and followed through December 2014. Control cohorts of men undergoing cholecystectomy and total knee replacement were control cohorts. RESULTS: 1894 patients undergoing hernia repair, 912 patients in the cholecystectomy control cohort, and 1099 in the TKA control cohort with a cancer diagnosis. In the matched analyses of mesh-based hernia repair and cholecystectomy patients 6.5% vs. 7.1% developed cancer. In the matched analysis of hernia patients and TKA patients, 9.3% vs. 9.1% developed cancer. No association between mesh-based hernia surgery and increased risk of cancer was found. CONCLUSIONS: Mesh-based hernia repair was not associated with an increased risk of subsequent development of cancer in men.