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Abstract Details

Balint’s syndrome presenting as the initial sign of occult breast cancer. Updating the diagnostic paradigm with recommendations for effective further management
Cerebrovascular Disease and Interventional Neurology
P11 - Poster Session 11 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)
4-014
We present a rare case of Balint’s syndrome in a patient who was later diagnosed with occult breast cancer.
Balint’s syndrome is a neurologic condition consisting of a triad of simultagnosia, optic ataxia, and ocular apraxia. It can present at the same time as various other comorbidies, including secondary to stroke in the setting of malignancy.
History, physical exam, review of literature 

We discuss a case of an otherwise healthy 70 yo woman (past medical history significant only for rheumatic heart disease as a child) who presented with recurrent multifocal strokes in a two-week span. Her initial stroke resulted in acute left upper extremity weakness and she was discharged on xarelto 20mg and atorvastatin 80mg. A week and a half later, she reportedly woke up with vision changes and thought that objects “looked funny, like parts were missing” to the point that she was unable to even read the numbers on her phone to call 911 and had to rely on her neighbor. Neurologic exam was significant for simultagnosia (inability to see a bigger letter made of other smaller letters), lateral gaze ocular apraxia, and dysmetria on finger to nose testing due to ocular ataxia. MRI brain showed multifocal acute infarcts, most prominently in the right occipital lobe, right parietal lobe and bilateral frontal lobes. Initial stroke work-up including a TTE was unrevealing (EF 65%, no LA dilation), but follow-up TEE showed a 0.3mm x 0.5mm hypoechoic mass concerning for marantic endocarditis with negative blood cultures. The patient underwent PET imaging and subsequent biopsy of a right mediastinal lymph node. Final pathology revealed ER/PR+, Her2- metastatic breast cancer. She was started on letrozole 2.5 mg daily for chemotherapy and was discharged with close follow-up. 

Our case expands upon our understanding of Balint’s syndrome with recommendations for diagnosing/managing underlying occult cancer.

Authors/Disclosures
Nara Michaelson, MD (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)
PRESENTER
The institution of Dr. Michaelson has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Michaelson has received research support from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). Dr. Michaelson has received research support from Sanofi.