Abstract
Forty-six patients who underwent surgery for brain tumors were studied prospectively with 125I labeled Fibrinogen leg scans to detect postoperative venous thrombosis. The incidence of thrombosis was 72% for meningioma patients, 60% for glioblastoma patients, and 20% for brain metastasis patients.
Correlation between the occurrence of venous thrombosis and the various clinical factors thought to be responsible for the high incidence of thrombosis generally failed to show statistical significance. This finding, along with the marked variation in the incidence of venous thrombosis between the different brain tumor groups, strongly suggests that biological factors play a more important role than clinical factors in determining which brain tumor patient will suffer a postoperative thrombosic event.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wetzel N, Anderson MC, Sheilds TW: Pulmonary embolism as a cause of death in the neurosurgical patient. J Neurosurg 17: 664–668, 1960
Kayser-Gatchalian MC, Kayser K: Thrombosis and intracranial tumors. J Neurol 209: 217–224, 1975
Blabey RG, Weil R, III, Santuli TV: Iliofemoral thrombophlebitis associated with central nervous system pathology. Am J Surg 130: 315–316, 1975
Joffe SN: Incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in neurosurgical patients. J Neurosurg 42: 201–203, 1975
Sjoberg HE, Blomback M, Granberg PO: Thromboembolic complications, heparin treatment and increase in coagulation factors in cushing's syndrome. Acta Med Scand 199: 95–98, 1976
Barnett HG, Clifford Jr, Llewellyn RC: Safety of mini-dose heparin administration for neurosurgical patients. J Neurosurg 47: 27–30, 1977
Valladares JB, Hankinson J: Incidence of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in neurosurgical patients. Neurosurgery 6: 138–141, 1980
Brisman R, Mendell J: Thromboembolism and brain tumors. J Neurosurg 38: 337–338, 1983
Swann KW, Black PM: Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli in neurosurgical patients: A review. J Neurosurg 61: 1055–1062, 1984
Ruff RL, Posner JB: The incidence of systemic venous thrombosis and the risk of anticoagulation in patients with malignant gliomas. Am Neurol Assoc 106: 223–226, 1981
Choucair AK, Silver P, Levin VA: Risk of intracranial hemorrhage in glioma patients receiving anticoagulant therapy for venous thromboembolism. J Neurosurg 66: 357–358, 1987
Kakkar VV: Deep vein thrombosis detection and prevention. Circulation 51: 8–19, 1975
Clayton JK, Anderson JA, McNicol GP: Preoperative prediction of postoperative deep vein thrombosis. Brit Med J 2: 910–912, 1976
Browse NL, Clapham WF, Croft DN, Jones DJ, Thomas ML, Williams JO: Diagnosis of established deep vein thrombosis with the 125I Fibrinogen uptake test. Brit Med J 4: 325–328, 1971
Sundqvist SB, Hedner U, Kullenberg HKE, Bergentz SE: Deep venous thrombosis of the arm: A study of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Bri Med J 283: 265–267, 1981
Sawaya R, DeCourten-Myers G, Copeland B: Massive preoperative pulmonary embolism and suprasellar brain tumor: Case report and review of the literature. Neurosurgery 15: 566–571, 1984
Turpie AGG, Gallus AS, Beattie WS, Hirsh J: Prevention of venous thrombosis in patients with intracranial disease by intermittent pneumatic compression of the calf. Neurology 27: 435–438, 1977
Cerrato D, Ariano C, Riacchino F: Deep vein thrombosis and low-dose heparin prophylaxis in neurological patients. J Neurosurg 49: 378–381, 1978
Skillman JJ, Collins REC, Coe NP, Shapiro RM, Salzman EW: Prevention of deepvein thrombosis in neurosurgical patients: A controlled, randomized trial of external pneumatic compression boots. Surgery 83: 354–358, 1978
Powers SK, Edwards SB: Prophylaxis of thromboembolism in the neurosurgical patient: A review. Neurosurgery 10: 509–513, 1982
Consensus conference prevention of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. JAMA 256: 744–749, 1986
Allenby F, Boardman L, Pflug JJ, Calnau JS: Effects of external pneumatic intermittent compression on fibrinolysis in man. Lancet 2: 1412–1414, 1973
Swann KW, Black PM, Baker MF: Management of symptomatic deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism on a neurosurgical service. J Neurosurg 64: 563–567, 1986
Schaible KL, Smith LJ, Fessler RG, Raichlin JR, Brown FD, Mullau S: Evaluation of the risks of anticoagulation therapy following experimental craniotomy in the rat. J Neurosurg 63: 959–962, 1985
Kakkar VV, Howe CT, Flanc C, Clarke MB: Natural history of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis. Lancet 2: 230–233, 1969
Olin J, Young JR, Graor RA, Ruschhaupt WF, Beven EG, Bay JW: Treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli in patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. Arch Intern Med 147: 2177–2179, 1987
Di Ricco G, Marini C, Rindi M, Ravelli V, Lutzemberger L, Tusini G, Giuntini C: Pulmonary embolism in neurosurgical patients: Diagnosis and treatment. J Neurosurg 60: 972–975, 1984
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sawaya, R., Zuccarello, M., Elkalliny, M. et al. Postoperative venous thromboembolism and brain tumors: part I. Clinical profile. J Neuro-Oncol 14, 119–125 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00177615
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00177615