Diagnosing a stroke

Doctors use computed tomography (CT) scan to diagnose strokes. CT scans can help your doctor determine whether your stroke was the result of a cerebral hemorrhage (hemorrhagic stroke) or a blockage (ischemic stroke) (See What is a stroke?). Your emergency treatment will depend on what the doctor finds. The scan may also help to identify the exact location of the damage.

Once your condition is stabilized, your doctor may take several days to complete a full medical evaluation. Tests that he or she may recommend for you include the following:

• Physical examination
• Blood tests
• CT (computed tomography) scans or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be used to locate an abnormal blood vessel or an area of brain damage.
• An electrocardiogram (EKG) may be done to identify any cardiac problems that may have led to the stroke, such as a prior heart attack.
• Tests may also be done to assess overall brain functions, as measured by electrical activity. These tests can reveal how much neurological damage was done as a result of the stroke. Among the most common of these tests are:
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG). Electrodes attached to the scalp are connected by wires (leads) to an electroencephalograph machine that charts the electrical activity of the brain
  • Evoked-potential study. The brain's response to sight, hearing and touch are tested and measured

Sources:
American Heart Association
Heart Center Online
John Hopkins Health after 50
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute