Catastrophic Arteriovenous Thromboembolism as Initial Manifestation of Pancreatic Cancer

  • Shounak Majumder Department of Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut. Farmington, CT, USA
  • Tatiana Thom Department of Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut. Farmington, CT, USA
  • Constantin A Dasanu Department of Hematology-Oncology, Saint Francis Medical Center. Hartford, CT, USA
Keywords: Adenocarcinoma, Gangrene, Ischemia, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Thromboembolism

Abstract

 

 

Context The association between cancer and thrombosis is well-known. Among gastrointestinal malignancies, pancreatic cancer has perhaps the strongest association with thromboembolic events. However, simultaneous arterial and venous thromboses affecting multiple organs at the time of initial diagnosis is rare, with an incidence of less than 1%. Case report We report herein a case of a 61-year-old woman who presented with digital ischemia, a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and an ischemic stroke, along with deep vein thromboses and pulmonary embolism. She was subsequently diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Discussion This report highlights the intriguing association between pancreatic cancer biology, tumor metastases, and triggering of venous and arterial thromboembolic events. Current evidence points towards early thromboembolic phenomena as a harbinger of poor outcome in pancreatic cancer, and studies attempting to define the role of prophylactic anticoagulation in these patients are ongoing.

 

 

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References

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Lower extremity digital gangrene in a 61-year-old female with metastatic pancreatic cancer
Published
2012-03-10
How to Cite
MajumderS., ThomT., & DasanuC. (2012). Catastrophic Arteriovenous Thromboembolism as Initial Manifestation of Pancreatic Cancer. JOP. Journal of the Pancreas, 13(2), 231-234. https://doi.org/10.6092/1590-8577/672
Section
CASE REPORTS