Purpose:

To determine the incidence of subsequent malignancy in patients with deep venous thrombosis and to investigate the malignancy detected patients retrospectively.

Material and Method:

We studied 212 consecutive patients with confirmed deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity between January 2001 and March 2003 at our department. We analysed records from malignancy detected patients, and results were discussed.

Findings:

Mean age of malignancy detected 21 patients (9.9%) was 57.7 ± 9.9 (35-72) and male to female ratio was 10/11. The most frequently detected malignancies were gynecologic (n=7, 33.3%) and pulmonary neoplasias (n=6, 28.5%). Gastrointestinal (n=3, 14.3%) and urologic (n=3, 14.3%) malignancies were less commonly observed. Gynecologic malignancies were localized at uterus (n=4), ovaries (n=2) and vulva (n=1). Pulmonary malignancies were small cell cancer (n=4) and epidermoid cancer (n=2). Gastrointestinal neoplasias were all localized at colon, 2 of urologic malignancies were renal (hypernephroma) and 1 was prostate in origin. Venous thromboses were localized most commonly at femoral vein (85.7%). Hemoglobin, thrombocyte and albumin levels were found to be significantly lower in malignancy group compared to other group (p< 0.005).

Results:

Deep venous thrombosis is associated with a significantly higher frequency of malignancy. The results clearly show that detailed screening especially for gynecologic and pulmonary malignancies is necessary in patients with no known risk factor in etiology.

Keywords: Deep Venous Thrombosis, Malignancy