Venous Thromboembolism in Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions When Guidelines are Inconclusive

Cancer Invest. 2015 Apr;33(4):142-51. doi: 10.3109/07357907.2015.1009631. Epub 2015 Mar 17.

Abstract

Management of Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients is difficult when guidelines are inconclusive. To share a reasonable and homogeneous behavior in such circumstances, four issues, which are felt as problematic by oncologists and surgeons, have been selected; all were uncovered or only partially covered by current guidelines. Results from the literature and author's specific experience in the field were utilized to suggest reasonable solutions to the raised questions. The reported experience is the first to provide real-world management guidance for VTE in cancer patients. The effort of putting together literature review and author's experience brought to the adoption of a common behavior.

Keywords: Cancer; Decision-making; Venous thromboembolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pulmonary Embolism / drug therapy
  • Venous Thromboembolism / drug therapy*
  • Venous Thromboembolism / etiology

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight