What percentage of PE patients without identifiable risk factors are diagnosed with cancer within two years?

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In the context of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) who do not have identifiable risk factors for thromboembolic events, approximately 25% of these patients are found to have an underlying malignancy within two years of diagnosis. This statistic is significant because it highlights the need for careful evaluation in PE cases where there are no obvious risk factors, suggesting that these patients may be part of a subset at increased risk for undiagnosed cancer.

This awareness is particularly vital for clinicians who need to maintain a high index of suspicion for malignancy in such patients, as early detection of cancer can greatly influence treatment outcomes. The association between PE and malignancy is well-established, and this specific percentage provides a quantifiable metric for healthcare providers to understand the cancer risk associated with this population.

Other choices reflect differing levels of risk but do not align with the established data regarding the incidence of cancer diagnosis in this group of patients.

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