Risk Assessment Scores for Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolic Disease

Current guidelines recommend that patients with cancer be assessed for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk at the time of chemotherapy initiation and periodically thereafter. Rates of VTE vary substantially among cancer patients. Multiple clinical factors contribute to VTE risk, including the primary site of cancer, extent of disease, interventions including major surgery, hospitalization, and systemic therapy. However, risk of VTE cannot reliably be predicted based on a single risk factor or biomarker. Within the last decade, risk assessment scores have been developed in cancer patients to more reliably predict thromboembolic events. This review provides an overview of evidence supporting the use of such tools for both primary and recurrent cancer-associated VTE. Potential applications of risk assessment tools as well as current knowledge gaps are outlined.