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
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