ISCHEMIC STROKE IN CANCER PATIENTS

Aim: The incidence of ischemic stroke has increased in cancer cases. Type, stage, and treatment of the cancer are responsible in etiopathogenesis. The aim of this study is to investigate cases who have an ischemic stroke while being followed up with a diagnosis of cancer.
Patients and Methods: The cases followed up with cancer and ischemic stroke diagnosis between January 2016 and February 2020 were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: 21 (11 Males, 10 Females) cases were included in the study. The average age was 64.8. Lung and stomach cancer were the most common cancers associated with ischemic stroke. When examined histopathologically, the rate of adenocarcinoma was 42.8%. The mean time between cancer diagnosis and stroke was 15.4 months in lung cancer, 10 months in stomach cancer, and 15.5 months in all cancers. At hospital admission The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale( NIH Stroke Scale/Score) was 5.6 median. All cases with multiple infarct areas in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were metastatic cancer cases. 11 patients died, and the median value of these cases was 11 days. Platinum derivatives were the most commonly used chemotherapy.
Discussion and Conclusion: Cancer has been shown to increase the risk of stroke with various etiological factors. Stroke is not a rare condition that causes serious complications in cancer patients. Awareness of clinicians should be increased in order to be able to combat this issue effectively. 
Key words: Adenocarcinoma, Ischemic Stroke, Cancer, Cisplatin