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Perioperative stroke caused by arterial tumor embolism
Douglas V Brown1, L Penfield Faber, Kenneth J Tuman
1Department of Anesthesiology, Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. douglas_brown@rush.edu
Anesthesia and Analgesia
|February 26, 2004
Summary
A rare case of stroke following lung cancer surgery was caused by a tumor embolism. This highlights the importance of considering tumor embolization in patients experiencing immediate postoperative stroke, even with small, peripheral tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
Background:
- Stroke is a potential complication after lung cancer surgery.
- Tumor embolism to the brain is a rare but serious event, typically associated with large, central lung tumors.
Observation:
- A patient developed an immediate postoperative stroke in the recovery room after pulmonary resection of metastatic sarcoma.
- The stroke was diagnosed as an arterial tumor embolism to the middle cerebral artery.
Findings:
- This case is unique as the resected metastatic lesions were small and peripherally located.
- Despite the small size and peripheral location, the tumor embolized, causing a cerebral stroke.
Implications:
- Tumor embolism should be included in the differential diagnosis for immediate postoperative stroke after lung cancer surgery.
- The possibility of tumor embolization exists even with small, peripherally located pulmonary malignancies.