TABLE 2.
Distribution of bleeding characteristics in patients with HNSCC from Milan, Italy
| Number of patients, n = 110 (%) | |
|---|---|
| Bleeding event | |
| Minora | 76 (69) |
| Majorb | 34 (31) |
| Site of bleeding | |
| Head and neck | 104 (95) |
| Lung | 5 (4) |
| Other | 1 (1) |
| Type of treatment during first bleeding episode | |
| Chemotherapy | 37 (34) |
| Anti‐EGFR ± chemotherapy | 29 (26) |
| Immunotherapy | 12 (11) |
| Timing of bleeding | |
| First line | 39 (35) |
| Second line | 25 (23) |
| Third line | 9 (8) |
| Other line | 5 (5) |
| No treatment | 32 (29) |
Abbreviations: EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
a
Minor hemorrhage: estimated as a bright red blood of half a teaspoon or more per episode of coughing (~5 mL).
b
Major hemorrhage: defined as fatal, life‐threatening, symptomatic, causing a fall in hemoglobin level of 20 g/L or more, leading to transfusion of two or more units of whole blood or red cells or about 200–240 mL, or about 1 cup, in 24 h.
Source: “Bleeding in recurrent and/or metastatic patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: the experience at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan.”