Chapter 112 – Cerebrovascular Complications of Cancer

As cancer and stroke are, respectively, the second and fifth leading causes of mortality in the United States, it is not surprising to encounter a patient with these concomitant diagnoses. Various cerebrovascular disorders can occur within the oncological population, complicating the overall clinical course, treatment, and long-term outcome of cancer patients. Detailed investigation and precise diagnosis of cerebrovascular disorders in cancer patients is important for several reasons. Early recognition of acute stroke may allow the cancer patient access to interventional thrombolytic, surgical, and endovascular therapies, and improve overall patient outcome. Secondary stroke prevention therapies are also guided by the etiology of the particular cerebrovascular event. Additionally, diagnostic workups in young or cryptogenic stroke patients without overt cancer can lead to the first recognition of the underlying malignancy. This chapter presents an overview of cerebrovascular complications from cancer.