Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis in cancer patients.
A total of 10 cases of non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) were found among 1640 adult patients, autopsied in a 24-year period. Eight out of 10 patients had an underlying malignant tumor, NBTE was more common in cancer patients than in patients without malignancy (1.25% vs 0.2%, P less than 0.05). Patients with adenocarcinoma were at higher risk than patients with other malignant processes (2.70% vs 0.47%, P less than 0.05); especially in cases of pancreatic cancer in comparison with other kinds of adenocarcinoma (10.34% vs 1.55%, P less than 0.05). Systemic embolization was the main cause of morbidity. Any thromboembolic event in cancer patients should prompt a search for NBTE. NBTE may be present in undisseminated cancers in otherwise curable patients.
González Quintela
A
A
Department of Medicine, Clinica Puerta de Hierro.
Candela
M J
MJ
Vidal
C
C
Román
J
J
Aramburo
P
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology