Idiopathic venous thromboembolic disease is associated with a poorer prognosis from subsequent malignancy

METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study of prognosis in Scottish patients diagnosed with cancer within 5 years after a venous thromboembolism (VTE). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Prognosis was significantly poorer if a VTE occurred up to 2 years before cancer diagnosis, most notably if the cancer was diagnosed in the 6 months after a VTE. British Journal of Cancer (2009) 101, 840-842. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605210 www.bjcancer.com Published online 4 August 2009 (C) 2009 Cancer Research UK