Managing Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) in Adults With Cryptogenic Stroke and Lymphoma: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Noman Khalid; Muhammad Abdullah; Sacide S Ozgur; Sherif Elkattawy; Fayez Shamoon

doi:10.7759/cureus.40316

Managing Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) in Adults With Cryptogenic Stroke and Lymphoma: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Cureus. 2023 Jun 12;15(6):e40316. doi: 10.7759/cureus.40316. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Noman Khalid¹, Muhammad Abdullah², Sacide S Ozgur¹, Sherif Elkattawy³, Fayez Shamoon³

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson, USA.
² Public Health & Community Medicine, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Medical and Dental College, Shaikh Zayed Federal Postgraduate Medical Institute, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore, PAK.
³ Cardiology, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson, USA.

Abstract

Cryptogenic strokes are strokes with no clear underlying cause. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is believed to be one of the causes of cryptogenic strokes. To manage such cases, closing the PFO is usually considered an option. We report a case of a middle-aged male with lymphoma who presented with an altered mental status due to a stroke, which, on investigation, was found to be due to an underlying PFO. This report explores the factors that must be considered when making the decision to close the PFO and emphasizes the vital role of a multi-disciplinary team in determining the best course of action for patients with cryptogenic strokes.

Keywords: bubble study; cryptogenic stroke; lymphoma; paradoxical emboli; patent foramen ovale.

Publication types

Case Reports