Haematologica, Vol 92, Issue 4, e53-e55 doi:10.3324/haematol.12237
Copyright © 2007 by Ferrata Storti Foundation
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Online Only Articles

Increased D-dimer value and occult cancer in the absence of detectable thrombosis

G. Lippi1,*, M. Franchini2, C. Biasiutti3, G. Dellagiacoma4, G.L. Salvagno1, G.C. Guidi1

1 Sezione di Chimica e Microscopia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Verona, Italy
2 Servizio di Immunoematologia e Trasfusione, Azienda Ospedaliera di Verona, Italy
3 Sezione di Radiologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Verona, Italy
4 Unità Operativa di Pronto Soccorso, Azienda Ospedaliera di Verona, Italy

*Corresponding author: Prof. Giuseppe Lippi, Sezione di Chimica e, Microscopia Clinica; Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Ospedale Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy, Tel. 0039-045-8124308, Fax: 0039-045-8201889, E-mail: giuseppe.lippi{at}univr.it; ulippi{at}tin.it

Fibrin formation and removal occurs continuously during the development of malignancy. Accordingly, hemostatic disorders in cancer patients are a rather frequent observation and range from asymptomatic laboratory changes to massive thromboembolism or haemorrhage. We document the case of an asymptomatic women, who was enrolled as a healthy control in a study and showed up with a substantially increased D-dimer value. After ruling out the most probable sources of D-dimer elevation, such as thrombosis, inflammation and trauma, she underwent laboratory and radiological investigations for malignancy, which were consistent with a colorectal metastatic adenocarcinoma. This case allow us to hypothesize that screening for occult malignancy in the presence of apparently inexplicable elevated D-dimer values may be taken into consideration