# Venous thromboembolism (VTE)

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/vte/  
OnCo record `vte` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Blood clots in the leg veins or lungs. Cancer makes blood clot more easily and some treatments (IMiDs, anti-VEGF drugs, hormone therapy, central lines, surgery) add risk; clots are the second commonest cause of death in cancer patients after the cancer itself.

## Summary

Cancer-associated thrombosis affects 5-20% of patients, highest in pancreatic, gastric, brain and lung cancer and myeloma; the Khorana score identifies outpatients who benefit from prophylactic apixaban or rivaroxaban (AVERT, CASSINI). Treatment is a DOAC or low-molecular-weight heparin for at least 6 months, balancing bleeding risk in gastrointestinal and urothelial tumours. Lenalidomide and thalidomide mandate aspirin or anticoagulant prophylaxis; bevacizumab and other VEGF inhibitors raise arterial events; tamoxifen and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents raise venous ones. Incidental pulmonary emboli on staging CTs are common and are treated as symptomatic ones.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-09
- Also known as: VTE; thromboembolism; venous thromboembolism; thromboembolic events; thromboembolic; thrombosis; thrombotic events; deep vein thrombosis; DVT; pulmonary embolism; blood clots; blood clot; anticoagulation; anticoagulant; thromboprophylaxis; low-molecular-weight heparin; LMWH; DOAC; DOACs; Khorana score; arterial thromboembolism; anticoagulants

## Notes

- Pancreatic cancer carries one of the highest clot risks of any cancer, and chemotherapy and surgery add to it. Pancreatic Cancer UK says tell the team straight away, or go to A&E or call 999, for pain, swelling or warmth in a leg or arm, sudden breathlessness, sudden chest pain or coughing up blood; that the oncologist should consider blood-thinning medicine during chemotherapy; and that clots are treated with tablets or injections for three to six months at first, usually without stopping cancer treatment.

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venous_thrombosis
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venous_thrombosis
- Pancreatic Cancer UK: blood clots in a vein and pancreatic cancer: https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/managing-symptoms-and-side-effects/blood-clots-in-a-vein-dvt-and-pancreatic-cancer/
- NHS: DVT (deep vein thrombosis): https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt/
- Pancreatic Cancer UK: side effects of chemotherapy: https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/treatments-for-pancreatic-cancer/chemotherapy/side-effects-of-chemotherapy/

## Connected records

- terms: [Anti-VEGF class toxicities (hypertension, proteinuria, bleeding, perforation)](https://onco.cc/terms/antiangiogenic-toxicities/), [Central venous access (port, PICC line)](https://onco.cc/terms/central-venous-access/), [Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) and CELMoDs](https://onco.cc/terms/imid/), [Living with FOLFIRINOX, NALIRIFOX and gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel](https://onco.cc/terms/chemotherapy-side-effects-pancreatic/), [When to seek urgent help with pancreatic cancer (NHS 111 and 999)](https://onco.cc/terms/urgent-help-pancreatic-cancer/)
- cancers: [Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic/)
- fronts: [Supportive Care & Survivorship](https://onco.cc/fronts/supportive-care/)
- technologies: [Cancer-associated thrombosis prevention and treatment](https://onco.cc/technologies/cancer-associated-thrombosis/)
- drugs: [Bevacizumab](https://onco.cc/drugs/bevacizumab/), [Lenalidomide](https://onco.cc/drugs/lenalidomide/), [Tamoxifen](https://onco.cc/drugs/tamoxifen/), [Thalidomide](https://onco.cc/drugs/thalidomide/)

---
JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/vte.json