The Risk of a Diagnosis of Cancer after Primary Deep Venous Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 338; no. 17; pp. 1169 - 1173
• Main Authors: Sørensen, Henrik Toft, Mellemkjær, Lene, Steffensen, Flemming Hald, Olsen, Jørgen H, Nielsen, Gunnar Lauge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 23.04.1998
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood vessels; Cancer; Cohort Studies; Denmark - epidemiology; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medical disorders; Medical research; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - etiology; Odds Ratio; Pulmonary Embolism - complications; Risk Factors; Thrombophlebitis - complications; Tumors; Denmark; Europe; Vascular disease; Pulmonary embolism; Human; Evaluation; Respiratory disease; Cohort study; Risk factor; Deep vein thrombosis; Cardiovascular disease; Malignant tumor; Carcinogenesis; Incidence
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199804233381701

The association between cancer and venous thromboembolism is well known. 1 Over 100 years ago, Trousseau reported cases of episodic migratory thrombophlebitis in patients with cancer. 2 The pathogenic mechanisms for the association include hypercoagulability due to activation of clotting by tumor cells, vessel-wall injury, and stasis. 1 Occasionally, the thromboembolic event occurs before the diagnosis of cancer, and it has been suggested that deep venous thrombosis may be a predictor of the subsequent diagnosis of cancer; this idea is controversial, however. Several studies have indicated an association, 3 – 7 but others have not. 8 , 9 Two recent studies have shown a significant association between . . .