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Diagnosis
Table 1. Features of Clinical Situations Mimicking Stroke
Diagnosis Features
Psychogenic Lack of objective cranial nerve findings,
neurological findings in a nonvascular distribution,
inconsistent examination
Seizures History of seizures, witnessed seizure activity,
postictal period
Hypoglycemia History of diabetes, low serum glucose, decreased
level of consciousness
Migraine with aura
(complicated migraine)
History of similar events, preceding aura, headache
Hypertensive encephalopathy Headache, delirium, significant hypertension,
cortical blindness, cerebral edema, seizure
Wernicke's encephalopathy History of alcohol abuse, ataxia, ophthalmoplegia,
confusion
CNS abscess History of drug abuse, endocarditis, medical device
implant with fever
CNS tumor Gradual progression of symptoms, other primary
malignancy, seizure at onset
Drug toxicity Lithium, phenytoin, carbamazepine
