ABSTRACT
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) share many risk factors and pathophysiological features and are usually considered manifestations of the same disease: venous thromboembolism (VTE). The incidence of lower extremity DVT is highly dependent on the population studied, their underlying risk factors, and the means by which DVT is documented. DVT is a multi-causal disease resulting from the interaction of genetic and environmental risk factors. Most risk factors for DVT can be related to the components of Virchow’s triad—stasis, abnormalities of the vessel wall, and abnormalities of blood—and many are associated with some component of hypercoagulability on a genetic, acquired, or situational basis. The simultaneous presence of multiple risk factors is in fact often a prerequisite for thrombosis. Gender differences in the incidence of DVT have been variable, and may be related to other risk factors. In addition to the tumor-related factors, cancer-associated VTE is related to a number of patient- and treatment-related risk factors.
