PULMONARY EMBOLISM IN BREAST CANCER: ETIOLOGY, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND TREATMENT APPROACHES

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism in breast cancer is one of the causes of major deterioration of health status of the patients. Pulmonary artery occlusion is most often a consequence of venous thromboembolism; this condition is referred to as "pulmonary thromboembolism". Significantly less common cause of occlusion of the pulmonary artery branches can be embolism by a cluster of tumor cells, accompanied by development of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy. This paper reviews data on the etiology and pathogenesis of pulmonary embolism in breast cancer, and approaches to its prevention and treatment.

Keywords

• breast cancer
• pulmonary thromboembolism
• tumor embolus
• platelets
• d-dimer
• anticoagulant