ABSTRACT
The association of venous thrombosis and cancer was first described by Armand Trousseau in 1865.1 Many further observations and later clinical trials, including those with different antithrombotic agents, have verified that cancer patients have a higher risk of venous thrombosis than patients without malignancies. On the other hand, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is frequently associated with occult malignancy. Concerning the prevention and treatment of VTE in cancer patients, there remain some major questions: (1) Do cancer patients undergoing surgery need intensified or prolonged
medical prophylaxis? (2) Do patients with cancer and acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or
pulmonary embolism (PE) benefit from prolonged or intensified antithrombotic treatment, and which treatment regimen is to be preferred?
