Table 3.

Conditions that mimic stroke

Diagnosis	Diagnostic features
Decompensation of previous stroke	Evidence of infection such as urinary or respiratory tract; metabolic disturbance
Cerebral neoplasm (primary or secondary)	Less abrupt onset; primary tumor or secondary to, for example, lung or breast cancer
Subdural hematoma	Recent head injury
Epileptic seizure	Possible previous episodes
Traumatic brain injury	History of trauma
Migraine	Less abrupt onset; followed by headache; younger patients
Multiple sclerosis	Less abrupt onset; possible previous episodes
Cerebral abscess	Infection