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Incidental venous thromboembolism detected by PET-CT in patients with cancer: Prevalence and impact on survival rate.
Thromb Res. 2014 Feb 9;
Authors: Callejas MF, Errázuriz JI, Castillo F, Otárola C, Riquelme C, Ortega C, Huete A, Bächler P
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: People with cancer are at increased risk of incidental venous thromboembolism (VTE) and PET-CT imaging is commonly used in this population. However, the prevalence of incidental VTE detected by PET-CT in patients with cancer and its impact on survival are unknown.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the local Institutional Review Board. 1331 consecutive adult patients with cancer who underwent PET-CT examination between 2009 and 2012 were included in the study (mean age: 57±15years). PET-CT reports were reviewed to identify patients with incidental VTE at the time of examination. Survival rates were assessed with Kaplan-Meier curves. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the association between incidental VTE and overall survival, after controlling for clinical variables.
RESULTS: Incidental VTE was detected in 19 patients (1.4%). Patients with genitourinary malignancies, colorectal cancer and lung cancer had the highest rates of incidental VTE at PET-CT. At multivariate analysis, incidental VTE detected by PET-CT was associated with worse overall survival independently of patient age, hospitalization status at time of PET-CT examination, and the presence of metastatic disease (Hazard ratio=2.03; 95% confidence interval=1.08-3.81, p=0.028).
CONCLUSION: Incidental VTE was detected in 1.4% of adult patients with cancer undergoing PET-CT imaging. Diagnosis of incidental VTE at PET-CT imaging was associated with worse overall survival in this population.
PMID: 24565275 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]