Korean J Intern Med.  2022 May;37(3):653-659. 10.3904/kjim.2021.309.

Analysis of thromboembolic events in head and neck cancer patients who underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin

• Cho H
• Choi JH
• Kang SY
• Lee HW
• Choi YW
• Kim TH
• Ahn MS
• Kim CH
• Shin YS
• Jang JY
• Oh YT
• Heo J
• Sheen SS

• KMID: 2529662
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2021.309

Abstract

Background/Aims
The study investigated the incidence of thromboembolic events (TEE) in head and neck (H&N) cancer patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with cisplatin, and analyzed the factors affecting TEE occurrence
Methods
Two hundred and fifty-seven patients who started CCRT with cisplatin for H&N cancer from January 2005 to December 2019 were analyzed.
Results
TEE occurred in five patients, an incidence rate of 1.9%. The 2-, 4-, and 6-month cumulative incidences of TEE were 0.8%, 1.6%, and 1.9%, respectively. Khorana score was the only factor associated with TEE occurrence (p = 0.010).
Conclusions
The incidence of TEE in H&N cancer patients who underwent CCRT with cisplatin was relatively low when compared to other types of cancer. However, patients with a high Khorana score require more careful surveillance for possible TEE occurrence.

Keyword

Head and neck neoplasms; Cisplatin; Chemoradiotherapy; Khorana score