Pulmonary embolism as a first manifestation of synchronous occurrence of two neoplasms
Elikowski, W.; Lewandowska, M.; Małek, M.łg.; Krokowicz, P.; Piotrowska-Stelmaszyk, G.; Zawilska, K.
Kardiologia Polska 67(11): 1262-1266; Discussion 1267
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-9032 PMID: 20024855 Document Number: 632135
A case of 67-year-old man with a first episode of acute, unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE). Screening for cancer revealed coexistence of two neoplasms: colon sigmoid cancer (operated on 6 weeks after pulmonary embolism onset), and multiple myeloma (treated successfully with thalidomide and dexamethasone). Low molecular weight heparin use as VTE treatment was followed by thromboprophylaxis for myeloma therapy. During a 30-month follow-up period, neither new thromboembolic complications nor cancer recurrence were observed. Overlapping different prothrombotic mechanisms of double malignancy might result in detection of both neoplasms at early stage.