title: High prevalence of recurrent thrombosis in subsets of cancer patients with isolated gonadal vein thrombosis: a single center retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer patients are a high-risk population for venous thromboembolism (VTE); the natural history of gonadal vein thrombosis (GVT) occurring in cancer patients is not well described in the medical literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Utilizing a software program the computerized tomographic scan reports of patients at a single cancer center from January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2011 were searched for the term GVT. Patients included in this analysis had a diagnosis of cancer, an isolated GVT (i.e. no evidence of thrombosis at another site), no symptoms referable to the GVT, and at least six months of follow-up information. All subsequent recurrent VTE events were confirmed by imaging studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  196 cancer patients with GVT were identified. The majority of patients in this analysis had metastatic disease (118, 61.2%) as well as active cancer (167, 85.2%). Twenty patients (10.8%) developed recurrent VTE (median follow-up 14.5 months); median time to recurrent VTEs was 5.5 months (range 0-19 months). When considering only patients with without a recent history of gynecologic surgery, VTE recurrence rates were 14.3%. Active cancer was the only risk factor significantly associated with recurrent VTE (P=0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based upon the patient's risk factors for VTE, treatment of an incidentally detected GVT in cancer patients with anticoagulation, as per guidelines for other VTE sites, may be indicated in certain high risk subgroups, especially those patients with active cancer who have not had prior pelvic surgery.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors: Suebpong
authors: S
authors: Tanasanvimon
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors: Naveen
authors: N
authors: Garg
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors: Chitra
authors: C
authors: Viswanathan
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors: Mylene
authors: M
authors: Truong
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors: Harmeet
authors: H
authors: Kaur
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors: Bryan K
authors: BK
authors: Kee
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors: Ibrahim H
authors: IH
authors: Sahin
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors: Milind M
authors: MM
authors: Javle
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: cgarrett@mdanderson.org.
authors: Christopher R
authors: CR
authors: Garrett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006058:Gonadal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: CAT Scan; Cancer; Pulmonary Embolism; Surgery; Venous Thrombosis