Idiopathic Thromboembolism As the Presenting Sign of Occult Prostate Cancer

Objectives: Idiopathic thromboembolism has been associated with occult neoplasia; however, very limited information exists regarding a man's risk of occult prostate cancer after an idiopathic thromboembolic event.

Methods: We performed a case-control study of 209 consecutive men diagnosed with prostate cancer over a 3-year period, with 350 men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) serving as control subjects.

Results: Men with idiopathic thromboembolism had a fivefold increased risk of prostate cancer compared with the BPH control group (risk ratio = 5.0, P = 0.002). The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression-free survival was not adversely affected after an idiopathic thromboembolic event.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that men with idiopathic thromboembolism are at an increased risk for being diagnosed with prostate cancer. In men with idiopathic thromboembolism, attempts to diagnose prostate cancer, including digital rectal examination and serum PSA, warrant consideration.