Cancer-Associated Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis

Omri Cohen; Lucia Maria Caiano; Antonella Tufano; Walter Ageno

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1722607

Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Table of Contents

Semin Thromb Hemost 2021; 47(08): 931-941
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722607

Review Article

Cancer-Associated Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis

Omri Cohen

¹National Hemophilia Center, Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and the Amalia Biron Research Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-HaShomer, Israel

²Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

³Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

,

Lucia Maria Caiano

³Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

,

Antonella Tufano

⁴Regional Reference Centre for Coagulation Disorders, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy

,

Walter Ageno

³Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), which includes portal, mesenteric, and splenic vein thrombosis and the Budd–Chiari syndrome, is an infrequent manifestation of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Like typical site VTE, SVT is also frequently associated with cancer, particularly intra-abdominal solid malignancies and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The clinical presentation of SVT is nonspecific. Symptoms may be related to the underlying malignancy, and thrombosis is incidentally diagnosed by imaging studies for cancer staging or follow-up in a substantial proportion of cases. The occurrence of SVT predicts worse prognosis in patients with liver or pancreatic cancer and, not uncommonly, SVT may precede the diagnosis of cancer. Therefore, the occurrence of an apparently unprovoked SVT should prompt careful patient evaluation for the presence of an underlying malignancy or MPN. Cancer patients carry a high risk of VTE extension and recurrence and long-term anticoagulant treatment is suggested in the absence of high risk of bleeding. Either LMWH or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are suggested for the treatment of patients with cancer-related SVT, although limited experience is available on the use of DOACs in these settings. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are suggested for the short and long-term treatment of SVT associated with MPN. This review outlines the epidemiological aspects, pathogenesis, risk factors, and diagnosis of cancer-associated SVT, and addresses questions regarding the management of this challenging condition.

Keywords

venous thromboembolism - cancer - splanchnic vein thrombosis - myeloproliferative neoplasms - anticoagulation

Full Text

References

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