title: Prognostic value of the D-dimer test in oesophageal cancer during the perioperative period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been little research on the perioperative D-dimer levels in oesophageal cancer patients. Plasma D-dimer levels can be used to predict the outcome in cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cancer group of 66 oesophageal cancer patients and a control group of 12 patients with benign disease were enrolled in this cohort study. The plasma D-dimer levels during the pre-operation and 3rd and 9th day post-operation periods were prospectively examined and analysed between the two groups. Plasma D-dimer levels were also compared with the clinicopathological characteristics and 3-year survival of the oesophageal cancer patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma D-dimer levels increased in both groups after surgery, but they were significantly higher in the cancer group. In oesophageal cancer patients, pre-operation plasma D-dimer levels were significantly higher in TNM stage IV patients. Perioperative plasma D-dimer levels significantly increased after surgery, and the survival was shortened in those patients whose D-dimer levels on the 3rd and 9th post-operative day above the median. In addition, increased plasma D-dimer levels at the 3rd and 9th days after surgery were influenced by the patient's age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In oesophageal cancer patients, D-dimer levels increased after surgery, and the increases were associated with poor outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Leilei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Chengxue
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D059035:Perioperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D