Risk scores for occult cancer in patients with venous thromboembolism: a post-hoc analysis of the Hokusai-VTE study

Abstract

Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) may be the first sign of an undiagnosed cancer. In patients with unprovoked VTE, the risk of occult cancer detection is about 5% in the year following VTE diagnosis. Cancer-specific screening is therefore often considered in these patients with the aim to detect cancers in an early, potentially curable stage. However, the optimal screening strategy remains controversial. Recently, two risk classification scores have been proposed to help clinicians identify patients at high risk of occult cancer in whom a more extensive screening approach may be warranted.