Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-Associated Thrombosis: What Evidence?

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The relevance of cancer-associated thrombosis has been increasingly recognised, both by physicians who treat patients with venous thromboembolism and oncologists. Active cancer accounts for 20% of the overall incidence of venous thromboembolism. While oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form of oral cancer, its relationship with venous thromboembolism rarely has been investigated. In this review, we provide an overview of this topic, with the aim of raising awareness on its relevance for patient care. ABSTRACT: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) disease is the second leading cause of mortality in cancer patients. In the general population, the annual incidence of a thromboembolic event is about 117 cases per 100,000 persons, but cancer increases this risk about fourfold, while in patients receiving chemotherapy and surgical treatment, it is about sevenfold. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer and represents a multistep process in which environmental factors and genetic alterations are implicated. Thrombotic risk is considered empirically low in OSCC patients, although few data are available. Having limited information available may result in poor awareness of VTE prevention in OSCC, risking jeopardising the oncologic treatment and increasing the morbidity and mortality among these patients. In this paper, the topic of OSCC-associated thrombosis will be discussed.