Heparin-induced tumour bleed

Patients with gliomas are at risk for deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolic events, and pharmacological prophylaxis may be indicated. This recommendation needs to be weighed against the risk of spontaneous haemorrhage from certain brain tumours. A patient, who was hemiparetic owing to a high-grade glioma and was started on heparin prophylaxis, developed a tumour bleed. The relevant issues are briefly discussed.