Aim: To estimate the risk of venous thrombosis associated with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and its consequences on treatment and survival.
Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 90 patients (49 males, 41 females - median age: 67 years [range: 37-94]). Pancreatic adenocarcinoma was histologically proved in 72 patients (81%) and was metastatic in 49 patients (54.4%). A venous thrombosis was observed in 24 patients (26.7%). A pulmonary embolism occurred in 4 patients with 2 deaths. The risk of venous thrombosis was significantly reduced by the use of anti-thrombotic prophylaxis (HR: 0.03 [95CI: 0.003-0.27]) and increased among patients with a biological inflammatory syndrome (HR: 9.0 [95CI: 2.30-34.4]) and metastatic disease (HR: 4.4 [95CI: 1.1-17.9]). Overall survival was not different between patients with (6.6 months) or without (6.1 months) venous thrombosis.
Conclusion: The risk of venous thrombosis is important and may delay the treatment in patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma. Some patients with high risk of venous thrombosis may benefit from a prophylactic anticoagulant treatment.