TIA - Diagnosis

TIA Diagnosis: An Introduction

A transient ischemic attack (also known as a TIA or mini-stroke) is a condition that results from a temporary lack of blood flow to a specific part of the brain. The challenge with making a TIA diagnosis involves the length of time that symptoms occur. Because most TIA symptoms completely go away after several minutes (but may last for up to 24 hours), by the time a person seeks medical attention, their symptoms have often disappeared completely.

Still, as part of diagnosing a TIA the healthcare provider will normally ask a number of questions (such as those concerning the patient's medical history) and perform a physical exam. If the healthcare provider believes that a person has had a TIA, he or she may order additional tests to look for possible causes of a TIA and/or to rule out other conditions that can cause symptoms that mimic a TIA.

TIA Diagnosis: Medical History and Physical Exam

When a possible TIA patient arrives at a hospital, a healthcare professional will typically first ask the patient or a companion what happened and when the possible TIA symptoms began. The healthcare provider will also usually ask questions about TIA risk factors, such as any history of cigarette smoking, high blood pressure (hypertension), or diabetes.

The healthcare provider will then usually perform a physical exam, including a short neurological examination looking for TIA signs and symptoms.

Tests Used for Diagnosing TIA

If the healthcare provider believes that a person might have had a TIA, he or she will order tests. These tests can help diagnosis a TIA or other medical conditions that can mimic TIA symptoms. Doctors may also use some of these tests to find the TIA cause or look for TIA risk factors. These tests for TIA include:

• Blood tests (such as tests looking for high cholesterol or diabetes)
• Computed tomography scan (CAT scan or CT scan)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Carotid Doppler ultrasound
• Carotid arteriography
• Cerebral angiography (also known as a cerebral angiogram, cerebral arteriogram, or digital subtraction angiography)
• Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
• Transcranial Doppler
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Echocardiogram
• Lumbar puncture
• Electroencephalography (EEG).

TIA Diagnosis: Ruling Out Other Medical Conditions

As part of diagnosing TIA, a healthcare provider will consider other conditions that can cause similar signs or symptoms. Some of these conditions doctors may consider before making a TIA diagnosis may include:

• Stroke
• Migraine
• Bleeding just outside the brain, such as from a subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Brain tumor
• Abscess, which is a collection of pus
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• High blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
  
  Note:
  Carotid: 颈动脉
  Doppler: 多普勒
  arteriography: 动脉造影
  Transcranial: 经颅
  Echocardiogram: 超声心动图
  Lumbar: 【解剖学】腰动脉；腰神经；腰椎
  Electroencephalography: 脑电图
  subarachnoid: 蛛网膜下腔
  hemorrhage: 【医学】出血
  Abscess: 脓肿