Diagnostic evaluation of stroke

Diagnostic testing in patients with ischemic stroke serves many purposes, including confirmation of the diagnosis and providing clues as to possible causes. Evaluation of the cerebral vasculature, the heart, the blood coagulation system, and selected other diagnostic tests may point to a mechanism of stroke which helps determine treatment and prognosis. With the recent advent of acute interventions for ischemic stroke, diagnostic testing is now an important component in the emergency management of stroke. In this article, the authors will review the standard approach to diagnostic testing for patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, and new developments in neuro-imaging and their use in acute stroke assessment.