TY - JOUR
T1 - Oncologic Emergencies
T2 - Too Much Clotting—Venous Thromboembolism in Malignancy
AU - Long, Brit
AU - Koyfman, Alex
N1 - Funding Information:
BL and AK conceived the idea for this manuscript and contributed substantially to the writing and editing of the review. This manuscript did not use any grants or funding, and it has not been presented in abstract form. This clinical review has not been published, it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, including electronically without the written consent of the copyright-holder. This review does not reflect the views or opinions of the U.S. government, Department of Defense, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Brooke Army Medical Center, or the SAUSHEC EM Residency Program.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019
PY - 2019/12
Y1 - 2019/12
N2 - Background: Malignancy predisposes patients to higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is the second leading cause of death in patients with cancer. Objective: This narrative review evaluates VTE in malignancy and the emergency medicine investigation and management of this patient population. Discussion: Patients with malignancy are at higher risk of VTE, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Risk factors include the underlying cancer, other hematologic disorders, cancer therapies, and underlying comorbidities. While patients with malignancy and VTE can present similarly to those without malignancy, incidental VTE is more common in cancer patients. Existing scores such as the Wells and Revised Geneva score can assist in risk stratification in patients with malignancy. A negative D-dimer result in the appropriately risk-stratified patient can be used to exclude VTE, though D-dimer is more commonly elevated at baseline in patients with malignancy. Several scoring systems may be useful to predict recurrent risk of VTE, including the Khorana and Ottawa scores. Treatment includes anticoagulation with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Outpatient therapy may be appropriate in select patients. Conclusions: This narrative review provides key updates in the assessment and management of cancer patients with VTE.
AB - Background: Malignancy predisposes patients to higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is the second leading cause of death in patients with cancer. Objective: This narrative review evaluates VTE in malignancy and the emergency medicine investigation and management of this patient population. Discussion: Patients with malignancy are at higher risk of VTE, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Risk factors include the underlying cancer, other hematologic disorders, cancer therapies, and underlying comorbidities. While patients with malignancy and VTE can present similarly to those without malignancy, incidental VTE is more common in cancer patients. Existing scores such as the Wells and Revised Geneva score can assist in risk stratification in patients with malignancy. A negative D-dimer result in the appropriately risk-stratified patient can be used to exclude VTE, though D-dimer is more commonly elevated at baseline in patients with malignancy. Several scoring systems may be useful to predict recurrent risk of VTE, including the Khorana and Ottawa scores. Treatment includes anticoagulation with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). Outpatient therapy may be appropriate in select patients. Conclusions: This narrative review provides key updates in the assessment and management of cancer patients with VTE.
KW - anticoagulation
KW - cancer
KW - deep venous thrombosis
KW - malignancy
KW - pulmonary embolism
KW - venous thromboembolism
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.08.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.08.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 31627886
AN - SCOPUS:85073554153
SN - 0736-4679
VL - 57
SP - 825
EP - 835
JO - Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - Journal of Emergency Medicine
IS - 6
ER -