Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-Associated Thrombosis: What Evidence?

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) disease is the second leading cause of mortality in cancer patients. In the general population, the annual incidence of a thromboembolic event is about 117 cases per 100,000 persons, but cancer increases this risk about fourfold, while in patients receiving chemotherapy and surgical treatment, it is about sevenfold. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer and represents a multistep process in which environmental factors and genetic alterations are implicated. Thrombotic risk is considered empirically low in OSCC patients, although few data are available. Having limited information available may result in poor awareness of VTE prevention in OSCC, risking jeopardising the oncologic treatment and increasing the morbidity and mortality among these patients. In this paper, the topic of OSCC-associated thrombosis will be discussed.

How to Treat Today? Oral and Facial Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism

“…In addition, there might be specific clinical problems with the treatment of CA-VTE in patients with OFC. For example, oral intake of the drug might be problematic due to impaired swallowing in patients undergoing significant tumor resections in the oral and facial areas or in those treated with radiation therapy [ 4 ]. Finally, there are limited data regarding the optimal treatment of CA-VTE in patients with OFC, and this also includes data on novel therapeutic strategies, including the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).…”