MEDICAL DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS - A RATION AL APPROACH TO ITS ETIOLOGY

One-hundred and four records of ambulatory deep venous thrombosis were studied retrospectively to determine the usefulness of an aetiologica l evaluation based on a rational approach. Among these 104 patients, 2 7 were known to have a cancer at the time of admission, and 77 had a p resumably idiopathic deep venous thrombosis. The discovery of 10 cance rs in the second group (13 percent) confirmed that the aetiological re search was useful. Statistical analysis of the two populations and the different parameters of the thrombus and its course failed to show an y significant difference in the patients whose cancer was revealed. Th e aetiological evaluation pointing to the diagnosis was always simple and not very costly; it consisted of careful physical examination with vaginal and/or rectal palpation, standard laboratory tests, X-ray fil ms of the chest and abdomino-pelvic ultrasonography. Although these ca ncers were at an advanced stage when discovered, the aetiological rese arch was justified by the finding of a few tumours amenable to curativ e surgical treatment.