Clinical features of lymphoma-related thrombosis

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of malignant lymphoma (ML) combined with venous thrombolism (VTE) and to provide primary information for its prevention. Methods: Clinical data of 4 256 patients with ML treated from January 2000 to December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. All patient pathologies were confirmed according to the World Health Organization classification of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue tumor standard (fourth edition). Results: The incidence rate of ML patients with VTE was 7.1%. The incidence rates of VTE of NHL and HL were 5.7% and 1.3%, respectively. Up to 16.4% patients developed thrombosis before chemotherapy, whereas 75.8% patients had thrombosis after chemotherapy, especially on the first three cy- cles. Upper limb and neck vein thromboembolic incidents occurred 146 times (48.4%) and lower limb thromboembolic events occurred 89 times (29.5%). Conclusions: ML patients with VTE have higher incidence of upper limb and neck venous thrombosis than lower limb. The highest incidence of ML-related VTE incidents occurs in the first three cycles of chemotherapy.