Occlusion of the carotid artery as presenting symptom of acute promyelocytic leukemia.
In a 44-year-old female acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) presented with abrupt onset of right hemiplegia and aphasia due to occlusion of the left carotid artery at bifurcatio. There was laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Thrombotic complications are unusual in APL, even in cases with evidence of DIC. This report aims at underlying the important implication of a correct timely diagnosis in young patients presenting with stroke.