ABSTRACT
Cancer is an important risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and is associated with at least a two-to fourfold increased risk compared with estimates for the normal population (1-3). High rates of fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) as well as fatal bleeding in cancer patients have been reported by Monreal et al. on behalf of the Riete investigators (4). Since both fatal PE and fatal hemorrhagic complications are more common in cancer patients with VTE than in those patients without cancer, a careful benefi t/risk assessment regarding anticoagulation-based prophylaxis is necessary.
