Diagnosis and treatment of 22 gastric cancer patients with lower limb deep venous thrombosis

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment of gastric cancer with lower limb deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Methods Clinical data about 22 gastric cancer patients with lower limb DVT from August 2008 to November 2014 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics and treatment were recorded. Results Of all 22 patients, there were 18 males and 4 females with average age of (62.2±15.0) years (ranging from 36 to 84 years). Adenocacinoma was identified in 22 (100%) patients, 15 (68.2%) patients were in stage Ⅳ and tumors in 18 (81.8%) patients were moderately and/or low differentiated. DVT was diagnosed after the gastric cancer diagnosis in 19 (86.4%) patients. After a definite diagnosis of cancer, 12 patients experienced a thrombosis event within 3 months. Ten patients underwent abdominal surgery and 5 cases experienced a thrombosis event within the first month after surgery. Twelve (54.5%) patients eceived anticoagulant therapy and inferior vena cava filter placement was performed in 3 patients. Twelve (54.5%) patients improved when they were discharged. Conclusion The risk of DVT is the highest in the first 3 months after gastric cancer diagnosis or surgery. Most patients are diagnosed in late stage and have tumor with poor differentiation. Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment can improve the prognosis.