DVT/PE
DVT - A Possible Indicator of Cancer?
Saturday, October 1, 2005
PTINR.com Staff
There are many causes of DVT - one not often thought of is cancer.
Deep Vein Thrombosis has been described as one of the most preventable forms of clot formation. There are many causes of DVT – one not often thought of is cancer.
Could pre-diagnosed cancer patients have an increased risk of DVT?
Cancer is associated with hyper-coagulant state. An August 2005 published study [Archives of Internal Medicine] demonstrated a relationship between an increased rate of DVT four-months prior to the diagnosis of cancer.
Investigators reported:
“Among cases with metastatic-stage cancer, the SIR was 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 2.0-2.6; P<.001), whereas for all other stages, the SIR was 1.07 (95% confidence interval, 0.97-1.18; P = .09). The incidence of preceding VTE was increased over that expected only during the 4-month period immediately preceding the cancer diagnosis date (P<.001).” Arch Int. Medicine
The study evaluated 528, 693 residents of California’s cancer registry. There were 7 types of specific cancers identified as significantly associated with DVT episodes.
7 Cancers Associated with Increased DVT |
| acute myelogenous leukemia |
| non-Hodgkin lymphoma |
| renal cell |
| ovarian |
| pancreatic |
| stomach |
| lung cancer |
The author’s concluded:
“In the year preceding the diagnosis of cancer, the number of cases with unprovoked VTE was modestly higher than expected, and almost all of the unexpected VTE cases were associated with a diagnosis of metastatic-stage cancer within 4 months. Given the timing and advanced stage of the unexpected cases, it is unlikely that earlier diagnosis of these cancers would have significantly improved long-term survival.”
The numbers don’t suggest DVT is a precursor to cancer however ‘standardized incidence ratios’ were as high as 2.3% (95% confidence interval) the general population. Unprovoked DVT and reoccurring DVT will make physicians think twice about the possibility of an unofficial cancer-screening tool. More study is needed to learn about the relationship between pre-diagnosed cancer and Deep Vein Thrombosis.