RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Causes and Palliation of Transfusion-Associated Vaginal Bleeding in Patients With Metastatic Cancer
JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer
JO Int J Gynecol Cancer
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 172
OP 175
DO 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000017
VO 24
IS 1
A1 Amie E. Jackson
A1 Elisabeth K. Stephens
A1 Aminah Jatoi
YR 2014
UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/24/1/172.abstract
AB Purpose The current study was undertaken (1) to capture a clinically relevant, systematically collected series of patients with metastatic cancer and transfusion-associated vaginal bleeding and (2) to provide insight into how best to palliate this bleeding.Methods/Results As part of a single-institution review, 46 patients with metastatic cancer and transfusion-associated vaginal bleeding were identified. In a minority, 14 (30%), the cancer itself was directly responsible for the bleeding, and under these circumstances, gynecological cancer was the most frequent cause. In 13 patients (28%), more than 1 palliative intervention was attempted. Of all the interventions, a hysterectomy was performed most frequently and was successful in 11 patients. The use of ablation or embolization procedures was rarely tried but successful in 4 patients. However, 2 patients died of vaginal bleeding, despite multiple palliative procedures to control bleeding, including tumor embolization in one.Conclusions Transfusion-associated vaginal bleeding in patients with metastatic cancer can arise from nonmalignant causes and often assumes an uneventful course but can, at times, be serious and difficult to control.