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The splanchnic vessels include the hepatic, portal, splenic, and mesenteric veins. Thrombi form in these veins in some patients with cirrhosis or myeloproliferative disorders or following splenectomy. Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) also occurs in patients with cancer, but whether it is a marker for occult malignancy or affects survival has been uncertain.
To examine cancer risk and survival in patients with a first-time SVT, investigators identified 1191 patients with this diagnosis listed in the Danish National Patient Registry from 1994 to 2011. They made the following observations:
Portal vein thrombosis was present in 78% of patients.
183 incident cancers were observed during a mean follow-up of 1.6 years.
The 3-month cancer risk was 8%, …