title: Fatal venous thrombembolism complicating imatinib therapy in a patient with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
abstract: Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is currently the therapy of choice for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The toxic effects of imatinib treatment are usually mild, and serious adverse events are rare. We report here the case of a patient with peritoneal metastases of GIST involving the pelvis treated by imatinib. Abdominal pain deteriorated early in the course of the therapy along with the enlargement of the tumors. The patient died suddenly, and the autopsy revealed pulmonary embolism originating from the deep vein thrombosis caused by the compression of common iliac vein by the tumor. The possibility of deep vein thrombosis caused by the compression of the veins by necrotic tumor should be considered in patients with abdominal or pelvic metastases of GIST, including patients treated with imatinib.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology & Radiotherapy, Charles University Medical School & Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. melichar@fnhk.cz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Melichar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Slovácek
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grossmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vanecek
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001344:Autopsy; D001549:Benzamides; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate