[Adenocarcinoma-associated nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis as the cause of recurrent strokes]

Nervenarzt. 2005 Apr;76(4):471-4. doi: 10.1007/s00115-004-1743-2.
[Article in German]

Abstract

We describe a 60-year-old female patient without vascular risk factors diagnosed with cardioembolic ischemic stroke due to an atrial septal aneurysm with a right-to-left shunt. However, further investigation after recurrent strokes revealed a nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) caused by a metastatic adenocarcinoma. The presented case illustrates the difficulties in establishing the diagnosis of NBTE premortally and points out the importance of repeated echocardiographic evaluations of cardiac valves and serological examination of tumor markers in patients with recurrent strokes of unknown origin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / complications*
  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Endocarditis / diagnosis*
  • Endocarditis / etiology*
  • Female
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Stroke / etiology
  • Thrombosis / diagnosis
  • Thrombosis / etiology*