Stroke diagnostic study of choice

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Stroke Main page

Patient Information

Overview

Causes

Classification

Hemorrhagic stroke
Ischemic stroke

Differentiating Stroke from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Diagnosis

NIH stroke scale
Glasgow coma scale

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Study of Choice

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Electrocardiogram

X-ray

Echocardiography and Ultrasound

CT scan

MRI

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Interventions

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Stroke diagnostic study of choice On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Stroke diagnostic study of choice

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Stroke diagnostic study of choice

CDC on Stroke diagnostic study of choice

Stroke diagnostic study of choice in the news

Blogs on Stroke diagnostic study of choice

Directions to Hospitals Treating Psoriasis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Stroke diagnostic study of choice

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maryam Hadipour, M.D.[2]

Overview

There is no single diagnostic study of choice for the diagnosis of stroke. But stroke can be diagnosed based on clinical presentation, CT scan, MRI findings.

Diagnostic Study of Choice

Study of choice

There is no single diagnostic study of choice for the diagnosis of stroke. But stroke can be diagnosed based on clinical presentation, CT scan, MRI findings.

  • Non-contrast CT scan is fast, widely-available and inexpensive. It can rule in hemorrhagic stroke (intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage) with over 95% accuracy. CT scan also has the ability to rule in massive ischemic stroke in two third of cases, but is is not sensitive for minor ischemic stroke.
  • MRI is the most sensitive and specific test for diagnosing ischemic stroke, specially minor ischemic stroke with limited deficits, and may help detect presence of infarction in few minutes of onset of symptoms.[1][2][3]

Sequence of Diagnostic studies

  • History and physical exam
  • Non-contrast CT scan
  • MRI
  1. Musuka TD, Wilton SB, Traboulsi M, Hill MD (September 2015). "Diagnosis and management of acute ischemic stroke: speed is critical". CMAJ. 187 (12): 887–93. doi:10.1503/cmaj.140355. PMC 4562827. PMID 26243819.
  2. Barber PA, Hill MD, Eliasziw M, Demchuk AM, Pexman JH, Hudon ME, Tomanek A, Frayne R, Buchan AM (November 2005). "Imaging of the brain in acute ischaemic stroke: comparison of computed tomography and magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging". J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 76 (11): 1528–33. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2004.059261. PMC 1739399. PMID 16227545.
  3. Kidwell CS, Chalela JA, Saver JL, Starkman S, Hill MD, Demchuk AM, Butman JA, Patronas N, Alger JR, Latour LL, Luby ML, Baird AE, Leary MC, Tremwel M, Ovbiagele B, Fredieu A, Suzuki S, Villablanca JP, Davis S, Dunn B, Todd JW, Ezzeddine MA, Haymore J, Lynch JK, Davis L, Warach S (October 2004). "Comparison of MRI and CT for detection of acute intracerebral hemorrhage". JAMA. 292 (15): 1823–30. doi:10.1001/jama.292.15.1823. PMID 15494579.