Stroke or Seizure? Diagnostic Role of Neuroimaging in Acute Neurologic Mimics

Acute focal neurological deficits require rapid differentiation between ischemic stroke and stroke mimics to avoid treatment delays and inappropriate therapy. Seizures, including ictal deficits, status epilepticus, and post-ictal/Todd's phenomena, are among the most challenging mimics. This review summarizes the role of multimodal neuroimaging in distinguishing acute ischemic stroke from seizure-related deficits.

We performed a focused narrative review of neuroimaging findings in acute stroke mimics, emphasizing non-contrast computed tomography (CT), CT angiography, CT perfusion, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), and arterial spin labeling (ASL) sequences. Imaging patterns, diagnostic pitfalls, and practical clues for hyperacute stroke pathways were synthesized.

Acute ischemic stroke is typically suggested by vascular-territorial abnormalities, including arterial occlusion or stenosis, territorial hypoperfusion, and congruent DWI/ADC restriction. Seizure-related deficits more often show non-territorial cortical perfusion changes, ictal or status-related hyperperfusion, reversible MRI abnormalities, and absence of arterial occlusion. However, post-ictal hypoperfusion, peri-ictal diffusion restriction, and reperfusion-related hyperperfusion may overlap with ischemic patterns.

A multimodal approach integrating vascular imaging, perfusion distribution, DWI/ADC, ASL, clinical timing, and EEG findings can improve diagnostic accuracy in the stroke-seizure differential without delaying treatment in true acute ischemic stroke.