Thromboembolic Disorders in Childhood Cancer

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication in cancer patients and represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The hyper coagulable state associated with active cancer involves many complex interdependent mechanisms.There is increasing evidence that dysregulated cancer cells can produce tissue factor (TF) and cancer pro coagulant (CP), which activate the coagulation system. Other risk factors for VTE includes aggressive chemotherapy, surgery, growth factors and central venous catheters.Diagnosis of thrombosis in association with cancer is complicated due to the presence of other co-morbidities. Patient with cancer may present with symptoms related to thrombosis owever, these symptoms may be confused with underlying cancer or its therapy, hence high index of suspicion is required to diagnose TE in cancer patient.Standard objective investigations (compression ultrasonography with Doppler imaging, ventilation –perfusion lung scan, spiral CT and MRI are all useful for diagnosis of VTE in cancer patients.