Key result
The overall pooled frequency of incidental pulmonary embolism in oncologic patients undergoing staging CT was 3.36%, with the highest frequencies in prostate, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic cancers.
Why the study?
Incidental pulmonary embolism is frequent in oncologic patients undergoing staging CT, but pooled frequency data across different primary tumors were needed.
Meta-Analysis (n=28,626)
Incidental pulmonary embolism is present in approximately 3.36% of oncologic patients undergoing staging CT, highlighting the need for careful evaluation of pulmonary arteries especially in prostate, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary cancers.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Clinicians should scrutinize staging CTs for incidental PE in oncology patients; meta-analysis extends pooled frequency estimates across tumor types.
PURPOSE: Incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE) is a common finding on computed tomography (CT). IPE is frequent in oncologic patients undergoing staging CT. The aim of this analysis was to provide the pooled frequency of IPE and frequencies of IPE in different primary tumors. METHODS: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and EMBASE databases were screened for studies investigating frequency of IPE in oncologic staging CT up to February 2020. Overall, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included into the present study. RESULTS: The pooled analysis yielded a total of 28,626 patients. IPE was identified in 963 patients (3.36%, 95% CI = 3.15; 3.57). The highest frequency was found in prostate cancer (8.59%, 95%CI = 3.74; 13.44), followed by hepatobiliary carcinoma (6.07%, 95%CI = 3.09; 9.05) and pancreatic cancer (5.65%, 95%CI = 3.54; 7.76). The lowest frequencies were identified in tumors of male reproductive organs (0.79%, 95%CI = 0.21; 1.37) and hematological diseases (1.11% 95%CI = 0.74; 1.48). CONCLUSION: The overall frequency of IPE in oncologic patients was 3.36%. There are considerable differences in regard to primary tumors with the highest frequency in prostate cancer and pancreatic and hepatobiliary carcinomas.
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Meyer et al. (2020) conducted a meta-analysis in Cancer (oncologic patients undergoing staging CT) (n=28,626). Oncologic staging CT was evaluated on Frequency of incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE) (3.36%, 95% CI 3.15; 3.57). The overall pooled frequency of incidental pulmonary embolism in oncologic patients undergoing staging CT was 3.36%, with the highest frequencies in prostate, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic cancers.
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