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Diagnosis of Stroke
Blood TestsTypically included as part of the general exam, the blood tests will help your physician identify any disorders of the blood and will provide levels of cholesterol and blood sugar to test for diabetes as well as other risk factors. Based on findings, your physician may determine that more specialized blood tests are required. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan One of the most common tests given to patients for stroke or stroke
risk, the CT scan gives your physician a special picture of the anatomy
of your brain, helping to identify areas lacking adequate blood flow.
For patients who are having a stroke, a CT scan is used to determine if
it is caused by a blood clot, a ruptured blood vessel or aneurysm. Specifically,
a CTA is used to scan the blood vessels, while a CT perfusion is used
to scan how blood supplies the brain tissues. Patients who may be pregnant
should discuss all potential risks with their doctors before proceeding
with a CT scan. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)An MRI is a more sensitive scan that can help your physician identify areas in your brain lacking adequate blood flow—at earlier stages. Because of the strong magnetic field and radio frequencies, people who have a heart pacemaker or any kind of metallic implant in their body shouldn’t have an MRI unless their physician approves the procedure. Patients will not be able to wear anything metallic during this procedure. The MRI test, while more specific than the CT, takes much longer to do and requires the patient to hold very still for an extended period of time—up to 30 minutes—so it is not used as the initial screening test. AngiographyA test where a catheter is thread through an artery in the groin and up into the brain. Xrays and dye are used to see abnormalities in the vessels. Non-invasive Vascular Assessment (NIVA)If you have had symptoms suggestive of a TIA, your physician may request a NIVA Exam, which uses advanced imaging techniques to painlessly evaluate the circulatory system, without the use of needles, dye or radiation. A carotid NIVA exam evaluates the carotid arteries in your neck for narrowing or obstruction. A venous NIVA exam is used to look for blood clots in your veins. This is performed with ultrasound, a non-invasive imaging technique that uses sound waves to look inside your veins and blood vessels. The reflected sound waves produce both auditory and visual signals. The patterns tell the doctor how much atherosclerotic obstruction exists in the arteries and, therefore, how compromised is the blood flow to the brain. EchocardiogramThis test is done to check for any abnormalities of the heart, such as abnormal heart rhythms, coronary artery disease or previous heart attacks. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves, delivered at the chest wall, to examine the heart. It is a safe and painless procedure that helps doctors diagnose a variety of heart problems. Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)A type echocardiogram is done from inside the esophagus (the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach). Because the esophagus lies just behind the heart, the TEE provides clearer images of the heart than a standard echocardiogram. Because it provides better images, TEE is generally performed when doctors want to examine hard-to-see structures of the heart. BACK TO TOP
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Colorado Neurological
Institute Stroke Center
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