Etiologic Overlaps Based on the Brain Infarct Topography

Etiologic overlaps may occur in patients with ischemic stroke depending on the diagnostic investigations and classification criteria.methods: consecutive ischemic stroke patients admitted in mackenzie hospital, canada from august 2003 to august 2004 underwent a standard battery of diagnostic investigations by stroke neurologists. stroke mechanism was defined based on the toast criteria. stroke topography subtypes were small and large artery territory infarcts.results: a total of 302 stroke patients (159 female, 143 male) were registered. small and large artery territory infarcts consisted 25.5% and 74.5% of our topography respectively. etiologic overlaps were found in 17.5% of the patients. cardiac source of embolism was significantly more frequent in patients with large artery territory infarcts (p= 0.002) but frequency difference of corresponing large artery atherosclerotic stenosis was not significant in these topographies (p= 0.378). etiologic overlaps were more frequent in patients with small artery territory infarcts (p= 0.004).conclusion: etiologic overlaps are frequent and should be considered for optimal management of the ischemic stroke patients.