Venous thromboembolism (VTE) causes significant morbidity in the cancer patient and sometimes increases the mortality risk. The patient under chemotherapeutic medications may suffer from deep vein thrombosis or a fatal pulmonary embolism. This article outlines the risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of VTE in cancer patients.
Assessing clinical risk factors: Overall, multiple factors are involved in VTE in cancer patients. These include tumor size, stage of the disease, chemotherapeutics used, surgical intervention or anesthesia, age, medical history and others. Cancer-related risk factors (site of cancer and tumor histotype) Very high risk (stomach adenocarcinoma, pancreas adenocarcinoma) - Risk score 2 High risk (lung, lymphoma, gynecological, bladder, testicular) - Risk score 1 Hematological risk factors Prechemotherapy platelet count > 350 000/ml - Risk score 1 Hemoglobin…
