Classification and Management of Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Active Cancer

Published: February 02, 2026

Figure showing Ischemic stroke mechanisms related to cancer and diagnostic findings
  • About 10-15% of patients with ischemic stroke have a history of cancer, half of whom have active malignancy at the time of stroke.
  • Cancer is the second and stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the US. There is a connection between cancer, its treatments, and the vascular system, leading to an increased incidence of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in patients who harbor or were previously treated for an underlying malignancy.
  • This scientific statement incorporates multidisciplinary expertise, that has critically appraised and has synthesized recent evidence to provide clinical suggestions on the epidemiology, presentation, evaluation, pathophysiology, and treatments for ischemic stroke in patients with active cancer.