ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Risk factors and clinical outcome of unsuspected pulmonary embolism in cancer patients: a case-control study

  1. M. SAHUT D’IZARN1,
  2. A. CAUMONT PRIM2,3,
  3. B. PLANQUETTE1,
  4. M. P. REVEL4,5,
  5. P. AVILLACH2,5,6,
  6. G. CHATELLIER2,3,5,
  7. O. SANCHEZ1,5,7,
  8. G. MEYER1,5,7

Article first published online: 1 OCT 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2012.04868.x

Issue

Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Volume 10, Issue 10, pages 2032–2038, October 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

SAHUT D’IZARN, M., CAUMONT PRIM, A., PLANQUETTE, B., REVEL, M. P., AVILLACH, P., CHATELLIER, G., SANCHEZ, O. and MEYER, G. (2012), Risk factors and clinical outcome of unsuspected pulmonary embolism in cancer patients: a case-control study. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 10: 2032–2038. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2012.04868.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Respiratory Disease

  2. 2

    Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris

  3. 3

    CIE 4, INSERM, Paris

  4. 4

    Department of Radiology, Hotel Dieu de Paris, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris

  5. 5

    Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris

  6. 6

    UMRS 872, INSERM, Paris

  7. 7

    U 765, INSERM, Paris, France

*Guy Meyer, Division of Respiratory Disease, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France. Tel.: +33 156 093 462; fax: +33 156 093 255. E-mail: guy.meyer@egp.aphp.fr

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 OCT 2012
  2. Article first published online: 1 OCT 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 27 JUL 2012 10:40AM EST
  4. Received 19 June 2012, accepted 24 July 2012

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (206K)

Keywords:

  • anticoagulants;
  • cancer;
  • pulmonary embolism;
  • survival

Summary.  Background:  Little is known about the risk factors and outcome of unsuspected pulmonary embolism (UPE) in cancer patients.

Objectives:  To assess the risk factors and outcome of UPE in cancer patients.

Methods:  The charts of 66 patients diagnosed with UPE were reviewed. Two control groups were selected: 132 cancer patients without pulmonary embolism (PE) and 65 cancer patients with clinically suspected PE. Variables associated with UPE were identified by multivariable analysis. Six-month survival and recurrent venous thromboembolism were compared by use of Cox proportional analysis.

Results:  Twenty-seven (40.9%) patients with UPE had symptoms suggesting PE. Adenocarcinoma (odds ratio [OR] 4.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.98–9.97), advanced age (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.02–1.38), recent chemotherapy (OR 4.62; 95% CI 2.26–9.44), performance status > 2 (OR 7.31; 95% CI 1.90–28.15) and previous venous thromboembolism (OR 4.47; 95% CI 1.16–17.13) were associated with UPE. When adjusted for tumor stage and performance status, 6-month mortality did not differ between patients with UPE and patients without PE (hazard ratio 1.40; 95% CI 0.53–3.66; P = 0.50). Patients with UPE were more likely to have central venous catheters and chemotherapy and less likely to have proximal clots than patients with clinically suspected PE. Recurrent venous thromboembolism occurred in 6.1% and 7.7% of patients with UPE and symptomatic PE, respectively.

Conclusion:  UPE is not associated with an increased risk of death. Patients with clinically suspected PE and those with UPE have similar risks of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (206K)