What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Aortic intimal sarcoma with recurrent embolic stroke (n=1). Intervention: Total aortic arch replacement and tumor resection. Primary outcome: Recurrence of cerebral infarction.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To describe a case of recurrent embolic strokes originating from a rare aortic intimal sarcoma that was initially misidentified as aortic arch atherosclerosis.

June 12, 2026Journal of Clinical NeurologyOpen Access

Recurrent Embolic Stroke From Aortic Intimal Sarcoma Mimicking Atherosclerotic Disease

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Key result

Aortic arch replacement and tumor resection halts recurrent strokes in a patient with aortic intimal sarcoma.

Why the study?

Intimal sarcoma of the aorta is an extremely rare malignancy that is frequently misdiagnosed as atherosclerotic disease.

Population

A 67-year-old female with recurrent embolic strokes

Design

Case report

Follow-up

7 months

Authors

YHYun Jeong HongUijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital DKDo Yeon KimIncheon St. Mary's Hospital HKHyeryung KwonSt. Vincent's Hospital

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Consider aortic intimal sarcoma in recurrent embolic strokes despite medical therapy; this case extends the differential beyond atherosclerosis.

Key Points

To describe a case of recurrent embolic strokes originating from a rare aortic intimal sarcoma that was initially misidentified as aortic arch atherosclerosis.
Evaluated a 67-year-old female presenting with acute left leg weakness using brain MRI, echocardiography, Holter monitoring, transcranial Doppler, and chest CT angiography.
Initiated dual antiplatelet and high-intensity statin therapy, followed by total aortic arch replacement after recurrent stroke, with subsequent histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations.
Initial chest CT angiography revealed severe stenosis at the right brachiocephalic trunk and an irregular plaque-like lesion in the aortic arch, leading to recurrent stroke approximately 50 days later despite medical adherence.
Histopathological analysis following total aortic arch replacement confirmed high-grade intimal sarcoma with focal positivity for actin and GATA3, and negative staining for CD34 and desmin.
No recurrence of cerebral infarction was observed over 7 months of follow-up following surgery and ongoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Structured PICO

Population

A 67-year-old female with cardiovascular risk factors who experienced recurrent embolic strokes due to an aortic intimal sarcoma mimicking atherosclerotic disease, followed for 7 months post-surgery.

Intervention

Total aortic arch replacement, followed by dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) for 3 months then aspirin monotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Outcome

Recurrence of cerebral infarctionhard clinical

Aortic intimal sarcoma should be considered as a rare cause of recurrent embolic stroke when patients do not respond to optimal medical therapy for presumed atherosclerosis.

Cite This Study

Hong et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Aortic intimal sarcoma with recurrent embolic stroke (n=1). Total aortic arch replacement and tumor resection was evaluated on Recurrence of cerebral infarction. Total aortic arch replacement and tumor resection prevented further cerebral infarctions over 7 months of follow-up in a patient with recurrent embolic strokes caused by aortic intimal sarcoma.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2bd1386550ea4541ffe9d7 https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2026.0011

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Implication

Consider aortic intimal sarcoma in recurrent embolic strokes despite medical therapy; this case extends the differential beyond atherosclerosis.

Recurrent Embolic Stroke From Aortic Intimal Sarcoma Mimicking Atherosclerotic Disease

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Recurrent Embolic Stroke From Aortic Intimal Sarcoma Mimicking Atherosclerotic Disease

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider