Recurrent ischemic stroke as an initial manifestation of an concealed pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Trousseau's syndrome

Giray S., Sarica F. B., Arlier Z., Bal N.

CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL, vol.124, no.4, pp.637-640, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Editorial Material
  • Volume: 124 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2011
  • Doi Number: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.2011.04.030
  • Journal Name: CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.637-640
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: No

Abstract

In rare instances, stroke may preceed a diagnosis of cancer and be the first clinical evidence of an underlying malignancy. Cerebral infarction mostly complicates lymphomas, carcinomas, and solid tumors. Malignancy-related thromboembolism can present as acute cerebral infarction, nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis and migratory thrombophlebitis. It is generally attributed to a cancer-related hypercoagulable period, chronic dissemiated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), or tumor embolism. We reported a case of malignancy-releated thromboembolism from an undiagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a 54-year-old man, who presented with recurrent ischemic stroke due to chronic DIC. He died of the underlying malignancy despite the appropriate institution of anticoagulation therapy.