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Trousseau Syndrome — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

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ModerateOncological EmergenciesTrousseau SyndromeSCE Medical Oncology

A 55-year-old man with cancer develops Trousseau syndrome (migratory superficial thrombophlebitis). What is the underlying mechanism?

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Correct answer: CCancer-associated hypercoagulability from tumour-derived procoagulant factors (tissue factor

Trousseau syndrome (migratory superficial thrombophlebitis, often nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis) is a classic paraneoplastic manifestation of cancer-associated hypercoagulability. Mechanisms: tumour-derived tissue factor expression, cancer procoagulant (cysteine protease), mucin-mediated platelet aggregation (especially mucin-secreting adenocarcinomas — pancreatic, gastric, ovarian, lung). It can precede cancer diagnosis by months. LMWH is the preferred anticoagulant (warfarin is often ineffective in Trousseau syndrome due to the non-warfarin-sensitive coagulation pathway activation).

Reference: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/cancer