Among 16 patients with cancer and non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis identified at necropsy, 7 (43.8%) experienced a major embolic stroke during their final hospital stay.
Observational (n=16)
No
Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis should be considered in cancer patients presenting with unexplained embolic events such as stroke.
Among 2627 necropsies performed in the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, over a period of 11 years, 16 cases of non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) were found in patients with cancer (13 adenocarcinomas). The final stay in hospital of seven of these patients was complicated by a major embolic cerebral (six patients), or spinal cord (one patient), stroke. In all cases, the diagnosis of NBTE was made at necropsy. The aortic valve was affected in 10 patients, the mitral valve in five, and both the mitral and tricuspid valves in one. The diagnosis of NBTE should be considered in any patient with a known, or suspected, malignant neoplasm who suffers a stroke or other unexplained embolic events.
Ojeda et al. (1985) conducted an observational in Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis associated with malignant disease (n=16). Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis in cancer patients was evaluated on Major embolic cerebral or spinal cord stroke. Among 16 patients with cancer and non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis identified at necropsy, 7 (43.8%) experienced a major embolic stroke during their final hospital stay.
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