Trousseau's Syndrome in Lung Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Study in a Japanese Community Hospital

Trousseau's syndrome is a cancer-associated thromboembolism that significantly impacts patients' prognosis and quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to investigate the frequency, characteristics, and prognosis of Trousseau's syndrome in lung cancer patients at a Japanese community hospital and examine the effects of therapeutic agents on this condition. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of lung cancer patients diagnosed with thrombotic complications at the time of diagnosis in our department between August 2013 and April 2019. Patients' characteristics, thromboembolism sites, treatments, and prognosis were analyzed. Among 956 lung cancer patients, 19 (2%) had Trousseau's syndrome. The median age was 65 years, and adenocarcinoma was the most common histologic type (78.9%). The most common site of thromboembolism was the brain (84.2%). The median survival time was 84 days, and 52.6% of patients died within 90 days of diagnosis. Patients who survived longer than 90 days tended to have a higher frequency of non-adenocarcinoma histology, EGFR gene mutations, and therapeutic induction with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Trousseau's syndrome in lung cancer patients is associated with poor prognosis. Histologic type, EGFR mutation status, and treatment with ICI may influence the prognosis. Future larger-scale studies are needed to validate these potential prognostic factors and to develop personalized treatment strategies.