Abstract
INTRODUCTION
In this study we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the location and histological structure of primary malignancy and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in patiens both having malignancy and pulmonary thromboembolism.
METHODS
Forty- two (42) patients followed by the diagnosis of both malignancy and PTE were enrolled in our study between May 2010- July 2013. We assessed our patients according to ages, genders, comorbidity and smoking habits and malignancy according to the location of malignancy, pathological subtypes, metastases and the duration of the initial diagnosis.
RESULTS
Of the whole 42 patients with malignancy and PTE, 15 patients were female (35,7%), 27 patients were male (64,3%). The mean age were 60,4 ± 14 (24-86). 19 patients (45,2%) were having pulmonary, 22 patiens (52,4%) were having extrapulmonary malignancy. The distrubition of pulmonary malignancy were as follows; adenocarcinoma (13 (30,9%)), squamous cell (4, (9,5%)) and small cell carcinoma (2 (4,7%)). The distrubition of extrapulmonary malignancy were as follows; gastrointestinal tract malignancies (9 (21,4%)), malignancy of the genitourinary system 8 (19%), head and neck tumors (3 (7,1%)), haematological malignancy (2 (7,1%)) and metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary (1(2,3%)). The lower extremity thrombosis in 25 patients (59,5%), the upper extremity thrombosis in 2 patients (4,8%), both upper and lower extremities thrombosis in 2 patients (4,8%) were detected by the examination of the venous Doppler ultrasound.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Thromboembolic diseases are known as one of the major causes of mortality in cancer patients. It has been shown in the previously studies that pulmonary thromboembolism has an enhancing effect to mortality in cancer patients. Therefore, in the presence of clinical suspicion of PTE, it must be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Patients of whom are diagnosed as PTE should be reconsidered and further investigations should be performed because of the probability of an underlying malignancy.
