NIMG-07. GLIOBLASTOMA AS A MIMIC OF ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE: AN UNDERRECOGNIZED PHENOMENON AND THE IMPACT ON PATIENT OUTCOMES

Abstract BACKGROUND Glioblastoma may present similarly to acute ischemic stroke. This study aims to determine characteristics and outcomes of patients with glioblastoma presenting with stroke-like symptoms. Our objective is to characterize patients with glioblastoma who present as mimics of acute ischemic stroke and identify differences in outcomes when compared to those diagnosed with glioblastoma only. METHODS The 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried for all patients who had a new diagnosis of glioblastoma. Patients with new glioblastoma who carried an admission diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke, but did not undergo thrombectomy, chemical thrombolysis, or hemicraniectomy were categorized as “GBM-Stroke Mimic”. The characteristics and comorbidities between GBM-Stroke Mimic and new glioblastoma patients were compared. Primary outcomes analyzed were discharge disposition and mortality. RESULTS Of 61,755 patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma, 1,000 (1.6%) were GBM-Stroke Mimics. GBM-Stroke Mimic patients more commonly presented with aphasia (P < 0.001) and hemiplegia (P < 0.001). Age greater than 65, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and long-term anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapy were more commonly associated with GBM-Stroke Mimic patients (all P < 0.001). GBM-Stroke Mimic patients were more likely to be discharged to skilled nursing facility, (p < 0.001), and a diagnosis of GBM-Stroke Mimic was an independent risk factor for inpatient death (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first study formally investigating the clinical outcomes of glioblastoma when initially diagnosed as stroke. When this misdiagnosis is made, we found an association with increased inpatient mortality, delays of care, and inappropriate resource allocation.