Fig. 5.1
Patient with right carotid TIA. MR angiography (a axial section, b sagittal reconstruction) shows unstable plaque of right carotid bulb with endoluminal fragment (arrow). REC right external carotid artery, RIC right internal carotid artery, RV right vertebral artery
Differential Diagnosis
Migraine aura (positive phenomena [scintillating scotoma, phosphene], aura progression, symptoms followed by headache).
Partial epileptic seizure (positive signs, myoclonus).
Hypoglycaemia.
Other neurological diagnoses: brain tumour, transient global amnesia, cerebral haemorrhage, etc.
Other non-neurological diagnoses: vertigo of ENT origin, syncope, psychosomatic disorder, etc.
Identification of Patients at Risk of Complications
About 10 % of patients with TIA subsequently experience stroke over the next 3 months, and half of them within 48 h.
TIA patients have a global vascular risk, i.e. a risk of stroke, myocardial infarction and/or vascular death of about 6 % per year.
Clinical Criteria
ABCD2 score
A for Age. If > 60 years = 1 point.
B for Blood pressure. If systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg = 1 point.Related posts:
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