Table 1 Common symptoms and underlying conditions in patients with cancer that may contribute to misdiagnose VTE
From: Emergency management of incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE)
| Chest symptoms |
Shortness of breath Chest pain |
Pulmonary embolism Pleural or pericardial effusion Superior vena cava syndrome |
| Haemoptysis |
Anaemia Infection Cancer-related asthenia Drug-related pneumonitis Radiotherapy lung toxicity | |
|
Syncope Palpitations—tachycardia |
Myocarditis Arrhythmia | |
| Lower and/or upper limb symptoms | Oedema |
Deep vein thrombosis Lymphoedema |
| Pain |
Lymphadenopathy Superior vena cava syndrome | |
| Cyanosis |
Inferior vena cava syndrome Hypoalbuminaemia Arterial ischaemia |