Stroke: Diagnosis
An emergency room doctor will examine you to assess your condition and try to determine what caused the stroke. In addition to conducting a complete neurological evaluation, any or all of the following diagnostic tests may be requested to determine the extent of damage and a course of treatment:

• Brain imaging tests (computerized tomography scan; or magnetic resonance imaging) to understand the type, location, and extent of the stroke.
• Carotid and transcranial ultrasound and angiography tests to evaluate blood flow and bleeding sites.
• Blood tests to check for bleeding or clotting disorders.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) or an ultrasound examination (echocardiogram) of the heart to identify cardiac sources of blood clots that could travel to the brain.
• A mental status examination (MSE) or other tests to measure cognitive function.