Diagnosis of a cerebral vascular accident begins with a general neurological examination, used to identify specific areas of resulting injury. A CT scan of the brain is then used to identify any cerebral hemorrhaging. An MRI with special sequences called diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI), is very sensitive for locating areas of an ischemic based<unk> , such as a<unk> . Further diagnosis and evaluation of a<unk>  includes evaluation of the blood vessels in the neck using either Doppler ultrasound, MR-angiography or CT-angiography, or formal angiography. An echocardiogram may be performed looking for a cardiac source of emboli. Blood tests for risk factors also may be ordered, including cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, homocysteine levels, and blood coagulation tests. Classification systems *The Oxfordshire Community<unk>  Project classification (OCSP, also known as the Bamford or Oxford classification) relies primarily on the patient's initial symptoms. Based on the extent of the symptoms, the<unk>  episode is classified as total anterior circulation infarct (TACI), partial anterior circulation infarct (PACI), lacunar infarct (LACI) or posterior circulation infarct (POCI). These four entities predict the extent of the<unk> , the area of the brain affected, the underlying cause, and the prognosis. * The TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute<unk>  Treatment) classification is based on clinical symptoms as well as results of further investigations. In this diagnostic system, a<unk>  is classified as being due to # Thrombosis or embolism due to atherosclerosis of a large artery # Embolism of cardiac origin # Occlusion of a small blood vessel
Watershed stroke
Lacunar stroke
ROSAH syndrome
Posterior cerebral artery syndrome
Middle cerebral artery syndrome
Anterior cerebral artery syndrome
Posterior circulation infarct
Perisylvian syndrome