Soft tissue sarcomas may present with deep vein thrombosis.
OBJECTIVE
To bring attention to our observation that soft tissue sarcomas may present initially as deep venous thromboses (DVTs).


METHODS
A query of our health system database (1996 to 2004) for patients diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas and DVTs was undertaken. Patient medical records were reviewed to select those patients whose DVT occurred before the diagnosis of their tumor. Patient demographics, tumor classification, presentation, and outcome were noted.


RESULTS
Six of 19 patients were identified (four men, two women; aged 41 to 85 years). All tumors occurred in the lower extremities. All DVTs occurred in the same extremity as the tumor. Pathology specimens indicated four different types of sarcomas. In five cases, sarcoma diagnosis was delayed as treatment of the DVT occurred. In one, a mass was seen on the initial venous duplex screen. Four are deceased, one remains in treatment, and one was lost to follow-up. The average length of follow-up was 10 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Soft tissue sarcomas can initially present as, or even be misdiagnosed as, DVT. Given a delay in diagnosis adversely affects prognosis, it is important that physicians be vigilante for associated tumors when evaluating for suspected DVT.
Benns
Matthew
M
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
Dalsing
Michael
M
Sawchuck
Alan
A
Wurtz
L Daniel
LD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy