[Lung cancer with venous thrombo-embolism: clinical characteristics].

Background: Lung cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed in patients with venous thrombo-embolism (VTE).

Aim: To investigate clinical, biological, radiological features and survival of lung cancer patients with VTE.

Methods: Retrospective case-control study investigating biologic, clinical course and survival of 25 patients lung cancers with VTE (Group M) and 50 lung cancers without VTE (group T).

Results: The frequency of the VTE was 5.88% with 2.58% pulmonary embolism (PE). The mean age was 58 years ± 9.8 in group M and 57.9 years ± 9.6 in group T. No significant difference concerning medical or surgical history for both groups was found. The dyspnea and chest pain were at equal frequency (63.6%). Regarding the clinical probability of the PE, it was no significant differences between the two groups. A rate of D-dimer > 0.7μg/l was more frequent among group M (75% vs 20%; p = 0.054). The most common histological type was nonsmall cell lung cancer (88%). A stage IV was significantly more frequent in group M (86.4% vs. 52.3%; p = 0.007). The mean period of survival in Group M was 10.6 ± 1.2 month and 20.2 + 1.8 month in group T; p = 0.38.

Conclusion: The VTE associated to lung cancer is under diagnosed. Prospective studies are needed to establish more adapted scores.