What are some other differential diagnoses that stroke can mimic?

Mimics: Stroke mimics, including seizures, tumor, infection, migraine, and other acute neurologic conditions should be detected by imaging, or at least suggested in the differential diagnosis.


What other diagnosis does a stroke mimic?

“Under the age of 50, most stroke mimics are migraines, epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis or high blood pressure that causes swelling in the brain,” he said. “Over the age of 50, most patients experiencing a stroke mimic are the result of epilepsy, metabolic derangement or a mass lesion in the brain.”

What are the differential diagnoses for other causes of the stroke?

The differential diagnosis of ischemic stroke may include brain tumour, hemorrhagic stroke, subdural hemorrhage, neurosyphilis, complex or atypical migraine, hypertensive encephalopathy, wernicke's encephalopathy, CNS abscess, drug toxicity, conversion disorder, electrolyte disturbance, meningitis or encephalitis, ...


Which disease accounts for largest proportion of stroke mimics?

In a recent study, 1361 patients presenting within 4.5 h with sudden onset symptoms suspected of being a stroke were imaged with MRI. Mimics were diagnosed in 38% of patients admitted as acute stroke. Migraine, functional (conversion disorder), seizures and vertigo were the most common mimic diagnosis [56].

What can mimic a stroke on an MRI?

Epilepsy. Epilepsy is one of the most frequent stroke mimics. Some symptoms, such as headaches, involuntary movements, incontinence or postictal confusion, may be helpful pointers against stroke.


New definition, differential diagnosis and risk of stroke



How can you tell the difference between a stroke and a stroke mimic?

Several key elements may help differentiate the stroke mimic from an actual stroke; these include the nature of the presenting complaint, certain epidemiological factors, timing of onset, the presence of signs or symptoms from the anterior vs. posterior cerebral circulation, and the choice of imaging modality.

What is a false stroke?

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke. A TIA usually lasts only a few minutes and doesn't cause permanent damage. Often called a ministroke, a TIA may be a warning.

What mimics acute stroke?

In various studies, the most common stroke mimics include brain tumors (gliomas, meningiomas, and adenomas are the most common ones) (4), toxic or metabolic disorders (such as hypoglycemia, hypercalcemia, hyponatremia, uremia, hepatic encephalopathy, hyperthyroidism, thyroid storm (4-6), infectious disorders (e.g. ...


What condition mimics a stroke and also causes a seizure?

Migraine aura and seizures include the most common neurological conditions that mimic stroke in the emergency setting.

What is the stroke mimic that can be caused by trauma?

There are many conditions that can mimic a stroke: sepsis, syncope, intracranial tumor, conversion, and factitious disorder, Bell's palsy, or previous facial trauma. An acronym that addresses the most common mimics is HEMI.

What are some examples differential diagnosis?

Examples of differential diagnoses
  • Chest pain. Chest pain is a symptom that can have many causes. Some are relatively mild, whereas others are serious and require immediate medical attention. ...
  • Headaches. Headaches are a common issue. ...
  • Stroke. Stroke requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.


What are the possible differential diagnosis?

A differential diagnosis is a list of possible conditions or diseases that could be causing your symptoms. It's based off of the facts obtained from your symptoms, medical history, basic laboratory results, and a physical examination.

Can a stroke be mistaken for a brain tumor?

Signs of a Stroke and Brain Tumor

“A lot of the time a brain tumor is mistaken for a stroke,” said Jensen. “That's how it presents: as a new onset of a seizure or a new deficiency like a numb arm or leg.” The lateral nature of symptoms observed in stroke patients is also often seen in patients with brain tumors.

Can MS mimic a stroke?

Two very different conditions, but they can look and feel alike. That's because they both harm your brain. The symptoms of MS and strokes can be close enough that even doctors don't always get it right.


Can a stroke go misdiagnosed?

While doctors should always be on the lookout for the possibility of a stroke, many are not. In fact, a number of patients who suffer from strokes are misdiagnosed or their diagnoses are delayed before they can get the treatment they need.

Can a nervous breakdown mimic a stroke?

Anxiety is Not Always Mental

It can cause chain reactions that lead to symptoms so pronounced they feel like you are suffering from a stroke. The key thing to understand is that the symptoms can be so similar that you should still strongly consider seeing a doctor.

Can you have stroke symptoms without having a stroke?

A stroke can give you a variety of symptoms, but a bunch of other health problems can cause some of the same ones, too. Conditions from migraine to multiple sclerosis can make you feel confused, dizzy, weak in the arms, or have trouble seeing, speaking, or moving.


Could I have had a stroke and not known it?

Yes, you can have a stroke and not know it. A stroke's effects can be undetectable if the stroke is small or if the tissue damaged does not serve a critical function. Evidence of the stroke would show on a CT scan or an MRI of the brain, but it might not produce symptoms.

Is it a stroke or something else?

Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.

What illness can mimic a TIA?

Frequent causes of transient neurological symptoms that can mimic TIA include:
  • Migraine aura.
  • Seizure.
  • Syncope.
  • Functional or anxiety related.


What else can mimic a TIA?

While partial seizures and complicated migraine are the most common and important TIA/stroke mimics, on occasion panic attacks, conversion disorder, vertigo, and syncope can also be confused with TIA. Panic attacks occasionally involve focal neurologic symptoms, but more typically the symptoms are vague and random.

How does hypoglycemia mimic stroke?

Acute hypoglycaemia may mimic acute ischaemic stroke on brain imaging, in about 20% of cases reported in the literature, by causing either unilateral cortical and adjacent subcortical tissue hypoattenuation and swelling greater than cortical ischaemic stroke (e.g. Case 1), or lacunar ischaemic stroke (e.g. Figure 4b).

Can you have a stroke with a negative MRI?

Conclusions There is a high rate of negative MRI and DWI among patients with minor stroke (a third) which has important management and research implications. A negative MRI or DWI does not exclude the diagnosis of stroke.


What is anosognosia stroke?

What is anosognosia? Sometimes after a stroke, people are not able to recognise the effect that it has on them. So you may not know that you've lost movement in your arm or leg, for example. This is called anosognosia.

What is a medical Ghost stroke?

Ghost infarct core refers to the phenomenon that CT perfusion may overestimate infarct core on admission, especially in the early time window of a stroke, by predicting lesion in areas that will not show infarct on follow-up imaging 1. This mismatch is defined as the initial infarct core - final infarct (>10 mL).