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Processing of Primary Brain Tumor Tissue for Stem Cell Assays and Flow Sorting
Published on: September 25, 2012
Ischemic stroke in patients with primary brain tumors
Teri N Kreisl1, Thomas Toothaker, Sasan Karimi
1Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Neurology
|June 11, 2008
Summary
Primary brain tumor patients frequently experience ischemic strokes due to treatment complications. Stroke is often a missed diagnosis, worsening disability in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Patients with primary brain tumors face elevated stroke risk from both the disease and its treatments.
- Understanding these stroke mechanisms is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence, characteristics, and etiology of ischemic stroke in patients with primary brain tumors.
- To identify stroke risk factors, diagnostic challenges, and outcomes in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of primary brain tumor patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke between 1996 and 2006.
- Analysis of patient data including risk factors, diagnostic workup, treatment, and Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) scores.
- Stroke etiology assigned using Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria for nonpostoperative strokes.
Main Results:
- Sixty-eight ischemic strokes occurred in 66 patients; 49% were operative complications, and 25% were related to radiation therapy (median latency 3.2 years).
- Gliomas were the most common tumors (60%). Stroke was the initial diagnosis in only 43% of cases.
- Median survival post-stroke was 1.7 years, correlated with MRS scores.
Conclusions:
- Ischemic strokes in primary brain tumor patients are predominantly caused by surgical and radiotherapy complications.
- Stroke is frequently underdiagnosed, leading to increased neurologic disability in this vulnerable group.
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