Table 1.

Risk factors for VTE

Cancer-related

Site

Very high risk: pancreas, brain, stomach

High risk: lung, kidney, colon, uterus, bladder, testicular tumor

Low risk: prostate, breast

Stage/metastatic disease

Higher for metastatic disease over locally advanced or local disease

Histology

Higher for adenocarcinoma over squamous cell carcinoma

Tumor grade

Higher for high-grade tumors (grade 3–4) compared to low grade (grade 1–2)

Initial period after diagnosis (3–6 months)

Active disease

Vascular compression due to tumoral mass or lymphadenopathy

Treatment-related

Chemotherapy

Cisplatin

Surgery

Hospitalization

Hormonal treatment

Indwelling catheters

Glucocorticoids

Transfusions

Erythrocyte and platelet transfusions

Erythropoietic stimulating agents

Antiangiogenic agents

Thalidomide and lenalidomide

Patient-related

Older age

>65 years

Obesity

>35 BMI

African-American

Female

Prior VTE history

Chronic venous insufficiency

Comorbidities/medical problems (infection, pulmonary or renal disease, arterial thromboembolism, others)

Pregnancy

Tobacco

Poor performance status

Low level of activity/physical exercise

Major trauma and immobilization

Inherited thrombophilia (Factor V Leiden)

BMI body mass index