Respiratory Acidosis as a Diagnostic Clue in Symptomatic Epilepsy With Stroke Mimics: A Case Report.

Stroke mimics are difficult to differentiate from each other. Symptomatic epilepsy can also occur, but it is necessary to perform a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to distinguish it from a stroke. Although respiratory acidosis has been reported to occur with partial-onset seizures due to prolonged apnea, respiratory acidosis is rarely suspected to be a sign of epilepsy. We report a case in which respiratory acidosis helped to diagnose symptomatic epilepsy with stroke mimics. The patient was a 52-year-old female who was brought to the emergency room with the chief complaint of difficulty in talking. When she visited the hospital, sensory aphasia was observed, and a computed tomography (CT) scan was performed. She vomited after the CT scan, and an arterial blood gas analysis showed a pH of 7.26 with a PaCO2 level of 71 mmHg, indicating respiratory acidosis. After the administration of diazepam, the seizures abated and her sensory aphasia improved. Later, an investigation of the patient's history revealed symptomatic epilepsy and discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs. If unexplained respiratory acidosis is noted in a patient with stroke mimics, a further investigation of the patient's history and physical examination may help to diagnose symptomatic epilepsy.

Analysis of events from sudden isolated dysarthria to diagnosis of myasthenic crisis: myasthenia gravis mimicking acute lacunar stroke-a case report.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenic crisis (MC) is a life-threatening complication of myasthenia gravis (MG), necessitating ventilation. Achieving a safe and timely diagnosis of myasthenic crisis with atypical, isolated presentation is a considerable challenge particularly in elderly patients, where myasthenia gravis can present with isolated dysarthria in rare instances, giving a clinical impression of lacunar stroke. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a compelling case of a 73-year-old Caucasian female presenting with abrupt onset of isolated dysarthria. Despite initial treatment for a presumed lacunar stroke, subsequent evaluations led to her diagnosis of a myasthenic crisis. Within 72 h of admission, the patient developed dysphagia and shortness of breath, requiring supplemental oxygen. The case highlights the sequential progression of events from the atypical presentation of isolated dysarthria and its course to the management of a myasthenic crisis. CONCLUSION: Our reported case focuses on the discussion of myasthenia that mimicked a lacunar stroke and was finally diagnosed at a critical time of medical crisis. This case highlights the imperative notion that isolated dysarthria in elderly individuals warrants vigilant monitoring for possible myasthenia gravis, given the low incidence of lacunar stroke presenting with only dysarthria.

The importance of multimodal CT examination in stroke mimics diagnosis: design of prospective observational multicentre study.

Introduction: Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography are the gold standard in neuroimaging diagnostics in the case of suspected stroke. CT perfusion (CTP) may play an important role in the diagnosis of stroke mimics (SM), but currently, it is not a standard part of the stroke diagnostic procedure. The project is a multicentre prospective observational clinical research focused on refining the diagnostics of stroke and stroke mimics (SM) in hospital care. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the degree of specificity and sensitivity of multimodal CT (NCCT, CTA, and CTP) in the diagnosis of SM versus stroke. Methodology: In this study, we will include 3,000 patients consecutively admitted to the comprehensive stroke centres with a diagnosis of suspected stroke. On the basis of clinical parameters and the results of multimodal CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the diagnosis of stroke and SM will be established. To clarify the significance of the use of the multimodal CT scan, the analysis will include a comparison of the blinded results for each imaging scan performed by radiologists and AI technology and a comparison of the initial and final diagnosis of the enrolled patients. Based on our results, we will compare the economic indicators and costs that would be saved by not providing inadequate treatment to patients with SM. Conclusion: The expected outcome is to present an optimised diagnostic procedure that results in a faster and more accurate diagnosis, thereby eliminating the risk of inadequate treatment in patients with SM. Clinical trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT06045455.

The Burden of Stroke Mimics Among Hyperacute Stroke Unit Attendees with Special Emphasis on Migraine: A 10-Year Evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Stroke and migraine are common neurological illnesses that cause tremendous suffering for patients. Certain diseases can mimic the clinical manifestations of an actual stroke. Migraine is one of the most commonly reported stroke mimics. The main goals of this study are to look at the prevalence of stroke mimics on the stroke pathway of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and how many of them are migraines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective service evaluation was conducted at the hyperacute stroke unit (HASU) of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital (RHH) in the United Kingdom. The total admissions from 2013 to 2022 were collected from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme database, and the number of stroke mimics was evaluated each year. The burden of migraine stroke mimics was also evaluated. Then, a one-year sample of stroke mimics was extracted to look for the types of each mimic. RESULTS: From 2013 to 2022, 45.75% (n = 12156) of the stroke pathway patients (n = 26573) were stroke mimics, with an increment of up to 55% in the years 2021 and 2022. During these 10 years, migraine stroke mimics accounted for 10.21% of admissions (n = 1240). The three most common mimics in a one-year sample of stroke pathway patients were migraine (14.70%) (n = 373), functional neurological disorders (FNDs) (7.17%) (n = 182), and Guillain-Barré syndrome (6.66%) (n = 169). Seizures, syncope, and metabolic derangements were reported as mimics in 4.17% (n = 106), 3.14% (n = 80), and 1.77% (n = 45), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the HASU attendees were stroke mimics rather than actual strokes, and the most common mimics were migraines.

Diagnostic challenges of focal neurological deficits during an acute take-Is this vascular?: Clinical hints, pearls and pitfalls.

Stroke and TIAs are amongst the common neurological presentations encountered by specialists and non-specialist health care providers. Despite the advances of neuroimaging techniques, clinicians are frequently faced with diagnostic challenges on evaluation of patients with suspected stroke. In this review, we discuss the characteristic features of cerebrovascular diseases and how to identify them. We also aim to provide a resource for non-stroke specialist clinicians to help them to correctly identify the symptoms and signs of disorders that may masquerade as stroke such as migraine, seizure, and functional disorder, and at the same time we explore how we can identify strokes that present atypically.

Unilateral upper and lower limb ischemia mimics stroke: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Although stroke and acute limb ischemia seem easily distinguishable by anamnesis and physical examination, symptoms may overlap and sometimes mislead the examiner. Such a situation can arise in the occurrence of unilateral neurological symptoms affecting the upper and lower limbs at the same time. As timely diagnosis and a correct therapeutic intervention are crucial to prevent irreversible damage in both diseases, knowledge of the possibility of one disease mimicking the other is essential. We present a unique case of acute unilateral upper and lower limb ischemia mimicking an acute stroke. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old Caucasian patient with known atherosclerotic risk factors was admitted to the emergency department with a suspected stroke with unilateral paresthesia. After a comprehensive examination of the patient with the need for repeated reevaluation and a negative brain computed tomography scan, acute left-sided upper and lower limb ischemia was eventually diagnosed. The patient underwent surgical revascularization of the upper and lower limbs with a satisfactory result and was discharged from the hospital after a few days. CONCLUSION: It is of utmost importance to always stay alert for stroke mimics, as overlooking can lead to severe complications and delay adequate therapy. Our case shows that persistent diagnostic effort leads to successful treatment of the patient even on rare occasions, as is the acute unilateral upper and lower limb ischemia.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura presenting as stroke mimics with normal diffusion-weighted MRI.

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and fatal thrombotic microangiopathy-based hematologic disease. Stroke has been reported as atypical neurological manifestations of TTP in some cases. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old male presented with typical acute ischemic stroke symptoms including sudden-onset dysarthria, right-sided facial paralysis and hemiplegia. However, his CT and MRI scans were negative without showing any new ischemic lesions. He was diagnosed with TTP with severe thrombocytopenia, mild anemia, increased LDH, and low ADAMTS-13 activity. The symptoms and positive signs were rapidly resolved after administrating the plasma exchange therapy. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should consider the possibility of TTP when a patient presents with acute stroke-like symptoms and thrombocytopenia, especially in an emergency room, either with or without new stroke lesions on the brain CT and MRI.

Frequency and Characteristics of Non-Neurological and Neurological Stroke Mimics in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Stroke mimics are common in the emergency department (ED) and early detection is important to initiate appropriate treatment and withhold unnecessary procedures. We aimed to compare the frequency, clinical characteristics and predictors of non-neurological and neurological stroke mimics transferred to our ED for suspected stroke. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of consecutive patients with suspected stroke transported to the ED of the University Hospital Essen between January 2017 and December 2021 by the city's Emergency Medical Service. We investigated patient characteristics, preclinical data, symptoms and final diagnoses in patients with non-neurological and neurological stroke mimics. Multinominal logistic regression analysis was performed to assess predictors of both etiologic groups. RESULTS: Of 2167 patients with suspected stroke, 762 (35.2%) were diagnosed with a stroke mimic. Etiology was non-neurological in 369 (48.4%) and neurological in 393 (51.6%) cases. The most common diagnoses were seizures (23.2%) and infections (14.7%). Patients with non-neurological mimics were older (78.0 vs. 72.0 y, p < 0.001) and more likely to have chronic kidney disease (17.3% vs. 9.2%, p < 0.001) or heart failure (12.5% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.014). Prevalence of malignancy (8.7% vs. 13.7%, p = 0.031) and focal symptoms (38.8 vs. 57.3%, p < 0.001) was lower in this group. More than two-fifths required hospitalization (39.3 vs. 47.1%, p = 0.034). Adjusted multinominal logistic regression revealed chronic kidney and liver disease as independent positive predictors of stroke mimics regardless of etiology, while atrial fibrillation and hypertension were negative predictors in both groups. Prehospital vital signs were independently associated with non-neurological stroke mimics only, while age was exclusively associated with neurological mimics. CONCLUSIONS: Up to half of stroke mimics in the neurological ED are of non-neurological origin. Preclinical identification is challenging and a high proportion requires hospitalization. Awareness of underlying etiologies and differences in clinical characteristics is important to provide optimal care.

Characteristics and predictors of stroke mimics in young patients in the norwegian tenecteplase stroke trial (NOR-TEST).

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that stroke mimics occur more often among young patients. Our aims were to identify the common mimics in young patients under the age of 60 years who received thrombolysis, to analyze the risk of hemorrhage after treatment with thrombolysis, and to identify risk factors and clinical parameters that might identify mimics in this group. METHODS: Norwegian Tenecteplase Stroke Trial was a phase-3 trial investigating safety and efficacy of tenecteplase vs. alteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Patients diagnosed with either acute cerebral ischemia or transient ischemic attack were categorized as stroke group, and patients with any diagnosis other than ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack as mimics group. Patients were grouped post-hoc into young (< 60 years) and old (≥ 60 years). Logistic regression analyses were performed with mimics vs. stroke as dependent variable to identify predictors of mimics. RESULTS: Of the 1091 patients included in the trial, 211 patients (19.3%) were under the age of 60 years. Out of the 1091 patients, 434 (39.8%) were female, median age 77 years (18-99 years), and median NIHSS was 4. Sixty-nine patients (32.7%) out of the 211 patients under the age of 60 were diagnosed as mimic. Mimics were significantly more frequent among the young (OR = 3.3, 32.7% vs. 12.8%, p = < 0.001). The most frequent mimics diagnoses among patients under 60 years of age were migraine (11.8%), no definite diagnosis (11.4%) and peripheral vertigo (3.3%). Mimics were independently associated with age < 50 years (OR = 4.97, p = < 0.001), not currently working/studying (OR = 3.38, p = 0.002) and not having aphasia on admission (OR = 2.95, p = 0.025). None of the mimics under the age of 60 years had symptomatic or asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage as a complication to thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: We found significantly more mimics in the young, of which migraine was the most predominant diagnosis. Thrombolysis with alteplase or tenecteplase did not cause ICH in any mimics under 60 years.

A case-control comparison of acute-phase peripheral blood gene expression in participants diagnosed with minor ischaemic stroke or stroke mimics.

BACKGROUND: Past studies suggest that there are changes in peripheral blood cell gene expression in response to ischaemic stroke; however, the specific changes which occur during the acute phase are poorly characterised. The current study aimed to identify peripheral blood cell genes specifically associated with the early response to ischaemic stroke using whole blood samples collected from participants diagnosed with ischaemic stroke (n = 29) or stroke mimics (n = 27) following emergency presentation to hospital. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), mRNA and micro-RNA (miRNA) abundance was measured by RNA-seq, and the consensusDE package was used to identify genes which were differentially expressed between groups. A sensitivity analysis excluding two participants with metastatic disease was also conducted. RESULTS: The mean time from symptom onset to blood collection was 2.6 h. Most strokes were mild (median NIH stroke scale score 2.0). Ten mRNAs (all down-regulated in samples provided by patients experiencing ischaemic stroke) and 30 miRNAs (14 over-expressed and 16 under-expressed in participants with ischaemic stroke) were significantly different between groups in the whole cohort and sensitivity analyses. No significant over-representation of gene ontology categories by the differentially expressed genes was observed. Random forest analysis suggested a panel of differentially expressed genes (ADGRG7 and miRNAs 96, 532, 6766, 6798 and 6804) as potential ischaemic stroke biomarkers, although modelling analyses demonstrated that these genes had poor diagnostic performance. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence suggesting that the early response to minor ischaemic stroke is predominantly reflected by changes in the expression of miRNAs in peripheral blood cells. Further work in independent cohorts particularly in patients with more severe stroke is needed to validate these findings and investigate their clinical relevance.

Computed tomography perfusion stroke mimics on RAPID commercial software: A case-based review.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide and can present with nonspecific symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. Many neurologic diseases present similarly to stroke; stroke mimics account for up to half of all hospital admissions for stroke. Stroke therapies carry risk, so accurate diagnosis of AIS is crucial for prompt treatment and prevention of adverse outcomes for patients with stroke mimics. Computed tomography (CT) perfusion techniques have been used to distinguish between nonviable tissue and penumbra. RAPID is an operator-independent, automated CT perfusion imaging software that can aid clinicians in diagnosing strokes quickly and accurately. In this case-based review, we demonstrate the applications of RAPID in differentiating between strokes and stroke mimics.

Code Pseudo Stroke - A Case of Hypokalaemic Periodic Paralysis Mimicking Stroke.

We present a case of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) presenting with stroke symptoms as a harbinger of Grave's disease. A 61-year-old female presented with symptoms of abdominal pain and fatigue two weeks prior to admission and reported acute diarrhoea and unintentional weight loss. Investigation revealed thyrotoxicosis with undetectable thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), elevated free T4 and elevated thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI). On the third day of admission, while undergoing physical therapy, code stroke was called on account of the onset of right-side predominant acute flaccid paralysis of upper and lower extremities, right-side facial droop, dysarthria and hyporeflexia bilaterally. The patient was alert and fully oriented with stable vitals with no increased labour in breathing at room air. An emergent head and neck CT, angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were negative. Serum potassium was 2.7 mmol/l, requiring prompt replacement. The patient's paralysis and dysarthria improved over the following three days with a complete reversal of symptoms following the correction of serum potassium. Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis can occur in association with any of the causes of hyperthyroidism. It is due to a significant intracellular shift of potassium, subsequently manifesting clinically with hypokalaemia and muscle paralysis. LEARNING POINTS: Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis is an acute flaccid paralysis secondary to hypokalaemia, triggered by hyperthyroidism, environmental elements such as a high carbohydrate intake or rest after intense exercise, and an underlying genetic component with mutations in the muscle ion channels.The pursuit of code stroke protocol in the in-patient setting must bear in mind reversible but potentially fatal and disabling alternative diagnoses such as stroke mimics including hypokalaemic periodic paralysis.Stroke mimics defined as acute onset neurological deficits that are not related to vascular cause are a true challenge, multiple scales have been created to distinguish them from an actual stroke, such as the Recognition of Stroke in the Emergency Room (ROSIER) scale.

Prospective collection of blood plasma samples to identify potential biomarkers for the prehospital stroke diagnosis (ProGrEss-Bio): study protocol for a multicenter prospective observational study.

Introduction: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are well-established, evidence-based, time-critical therapies that reduce morbidity and mortality in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. The exclusion of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is mandatory and has been performed by cerebral imaging to date. Mobile stroke units (MSUs) have been shown to improve functional outcomes by bringing cerebral imaging and IVT directly to the patient, but they have limited coverage. Blood biomarkers clearly distinguishing between AIS, ICH, and stroke mimics (SM) could provide an alternative to cerebral imaging if concentration changes are detectable in the hyperacute phase after stroke with high diagnostic accuracy. In this study, we will take blood samples in a prehospital setting to evaluate potential biomarkers. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (https://drks.de/search/de) with the identifier DRKS00023063. Methods and analysis: We plan a prospective, observational study involving 300 patients with suspected stroke and symptom onset of ≤4.5 h before the collection of biomarkers. Study participants will be recruited from three sites in Berlin, Germany during MSU deployments. The focus of the study is the collection of blood samples from participants at the prehospital scene and from participants with AIS or ICH at a second-time point. All samples will be analyzed using targeted and untargeted analytical approaches. Study-related information about participants, including medical information and discharge diagnoses from the subsequent treating hospital, will be collected and documented in an electronic case report form (eCRF). Discussion: This study will evaluate whether a single blood biomarker or a combination of biomarkers can distinguish patients with AIS and ICH from patients with stroke and SM in the early phase after symptom onset in the prehospital setting. In addition, the kinetics of blood biomarkers in AIS and ICH patients will be investigated. Our goal is to evaluate new ways to reliably diagnose stroke in the prehospital setting and thus accelerate the application of evidence-based therapies to stroke patients.

A case of spinal epidural lipomatosis presenting as a stroke mimic.

Here we present the case of a patient with right upper extremity and right lower extremity weakness of a three-day duration, which triggered a stroke evaluation. Ultimately, the diagnosis of spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) was made. Non-stroke diagnoses that present with stroke-like symptoms are referred to in the medical literature as stroke mimics. Such cases present with neurological deficits that imitate acute ischemic stroke. The frequency of such presentations occurs in up to 30% of initially suspected stroke. This case illustrates that SEL can present as a stroke mimic. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a presentation in the medical literature of SEL as a stroke mimic.

Visual symptoms in acute stroke - A systematic review of observational studies.

OBJECTIVE: Atypical symptoms of stroke, such as non-specific visual symptoms, are a challenging aspect of acute stroke diagnostics. Among patients evaluated for stroke in the Emergency Department, 2-28% present with stroke chameleons, and 30-43% with stroke mimics. We aimed to identify the type of visual symptoms present in typical strokes, stroke mimics, and stroke chameleons. PATIENTS AND METHODS: By use of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis we searched PubMed and Embase for studies with reports of acute visual symptoms in typical strokes vs mimics or chameleons (PROSPERO protocol, ID CRD42022364749). Risk of bias was assessed by The Critical Appraisal Skills Program. RESULTS: Thirteen papers were included, comprising data from 9248 patients evaluated for stroke. Compared to mimics, visual symptoms in stroke presented more frequently as hemianopia (28.2% vs 4.8%, 7,4% vs 2.3%, 22% vs 0%), visual loss (11.6% vs 1.8%), visual field defect (11.6% vs 4%, 24% vs 2%, 19% vs 1.7%), eye movement disorder (19.4% vs 6.4%), eye deviation (9.6% vs 0.9%), gaze palsy (32.1% vs 8.6%), oculomotor disturbance (37% vs 0%), and visual inattention (17.5% vs 4%). Compared to strokes, mimics more often presented "non-systematized visual trouble" (10% vs 3%) and blurred vision (22% vs 5%), whereas "visual disturbance" was reported more often in stroke chameleons than in typical strokes (10% vs 3%). CONCLUSION: Detailed reports of visual symptoms were lacking in most studies, however blurred vision and "non-systematized visual trouble" were more frequent in mimics, "visual disturbance" in stroke chameleons, and negative visual symptoms such as visual field defects in typical strokes. A more systematic and detailed approach to visual symptoms may facilitate acute stroke recognition in patients with visual symptoms.

Targeted metabolomics reveals serum changes of amino acids in mild to moderate ischemic stroke and stroke mimics.

Background: The pathophysiological processes linked to an acute ischemic stroke (IS) can be reflected in the circulating metabolome. Amino acids (AAs) have been demonstrated to be one of the most significant metabolites that can undergo significant alteration after a stroke. Methods: We sought to identify the potential biomarkers for the early detection of IS using an extensive targeted technique for reliable quantification of 27 different AAs based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A cohort with 216 participants was enrolled, including 70 mild to moderate ischemic stroke patients (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale < 15, MB group), 76 stroke mimics (MM group) and 70 healthy controls (NC group). Results: It was found that upon comparing MB and MM to control patients, AAs shifts were detected via partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) and pathway analysis. Interestingly, MB and MM exhibited similar AAs pattern. Moreover, ornithine, asparagine, valine, citrulline, and cysteine were identified for inclusion in a biomarker panel for early-stage stroke detection based upon an AUC of 0.968 (95% CI 0.924-0.998). Levels of ornithine were positively associated with infract volume, 3 months mRS score, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score in MB. In addition, a metabolites biomarker panel, including ornithine, taurine, phenylalanine, citrulline, cysteine, yielded an AUC of 0.99 (95% CI 0.966-1) which can be employed to effectively discriminate MM patients from control. Conclusion: Overall, alternations in serum AAs are characteristic metabolic features of MB and MM. AAs could serve as promising biomarkers for the early diagnosis of MB patients since mild to moderate IS patients were enrolled in the study. The metabolism of AAs can be considered as a key indicator for both the prevention and treatment of IS.

Thrombolysis in Stroke Mimics: Comprehensive Stroke Centers vs Telestroke Sites.

BACKGROUND: Hyperacute treatment of acute stroke may lead to thrombolysis in stroke mimics (SM). Our aim was to determine the frequency of thrombolysis in SM in primary stroke centers (PSC) dependent on telestroke versus comprehensive stroke centers (CSC). METHOD: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data from the Quality improvement and Clinical Research (QuICR) registry, the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), and The National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) of consecutive patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke in Alberta (Canada) from April 2016 to March 2021. RESULT: A total of 2471 patients who received thrombolysis were included. Linking the QuICR registry to DAD 169 (6.83%) patients were identified as SM; however, on our review of the records, only 112 (4.53%) were actual SM. SMs were younger with a mean age of 61.66 (±16.15) vs 71.08 (±14.55) in stroke. National Institute of Health Stroke Scale was higher in stroke with a median (IQR) of 10 (5-17) vs 7 (5-10) in SM. Only one patient (0.89 %) in SM groups had a small parenchymal hemorrhage versus 155 (6.57%) stroke patients had a parenchymal hemorrhage. There was no death among patients of thrombolysed SM during hospitalization versus 276 (11.69%) in stroke. There was no significant difference in the rate of SM among thrombolysed patients between PSC 27 (5.36%) versus CSC 85 (4.3%) (P = 0.312). The most responsible diagnosis of SM was migraine/migraine equivalent, functional disorder, seizure, and delirium. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of SM may not always be correct when the information is extracted from databases. The rate of thrombolysis in SM via telestroke is similar to treatment in person at CSC.

Fully Reversible Contrast-Induced Encephalopathy Mimicking Stroke after Flow Diverter Treatment of Carotid Cave Aneurysm.

Contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) is a rare complication of coronary and neurointerventional procedures. The condition is believed to arise from endothelial damage secondary to exposure to iodinated contrast media. A wide spectrum of clinical manifestations has been reported including seizures, cortical blindness, and focal neurological deficits. This report details the case of fully reversible CIE mimicking severe anterior circulation stroke in a 55-year-old female following elective endovascular treatment with a flow diverter of a carotid cave aneurysm. The patient was managed conservatively with intravenous hydration and steroids and showed an excellent prognosis with supportive management.

Listeria Rhombencephalitis and Infratentorial Brain Abcesses in a Young Adult with Stroke Like Presentation.

Rhombencephalitis refers to the inflammation of rhombencephalon, and Listeria monocytogenes is one of the causes of infectious rhombencephalitis. Listeria rhombencephalitis is a rare and severe infection with high mortality and morbidity. As the disease can present with a variety of neurological symptoms and nonspecific laboratory tests, it can easily be misdiagnosed. Sudden onset of neurological signs without fever can resemble stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging can be useful in patients for confirmation of the diagnosis and during the follow-up. Early diagnosis and treatment are especially important for improvement of the outcomes. Here we report a case with stroke-like presentation that was diagnosed as Listeria rhombencephalitis in follow-up and present the serial brain magnetic resonance imaging features.