Teen Cancer Increases Stroke Risk

Short Attention Span Summary

Clay Smith, MD,  Twitter

Teen Cancer and Stroke
Teen cancer treatment increases heart disease.  But what about the brain?  This study found cancer diagnosed from age 15 – 39 years was associated with a 40% increased risk of cerebrovascular events.  CNS and head/neck malignancies plus leukemias were at highest risk.  Why is this relevant for the ED?  We may not be as likely to consider TIA or stroke in younger patients with neurological complaints but no other risk factors.  But if there is a prior history of cancer treatment, this is a risk factor in itself.

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Cancer as a young person increases subsequent risk for cerebrovascular events.  Cancer is in itself a risk factor for stroke.

Source
Risk of Cerebrovascular Events in 178 962 Five-Year Survivors of Cancer Diagnosed at 15 to 39 Years of Age: The TYACSS (Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Survivor Study). Circulation. 2017 Mar 28;135(13):1194-1210. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.025778. Epub 2017 Jan 25.

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Peer Reviewer Comment
Thomas Davis, MD,  Twitter

This is spot on.