Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Diagnosis
To diagnose TIA, it is essential to obtain a full and accurate account of the attack. Tests support but do not usually confirm diagnosis of TIA, which must be made purely from the clinical history.

It is important to diagnose a TIA in order to prevent the damage and disability a future stroke could cause. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and conduct a complete physical exam. Depending on your doctor’s findings, he or she may then recommend one or more of the following tests:

• Chest x-ray to check for enlarged left atrium or valvular calcification.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) to record the electrical activity of your heart and rule out atrial fibrillation.
• Carotid doppler ultrasound to view blood flow in the major veins and arteries of the head.
• Various blood tests, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), a nonspecific screening test for various diseases.
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound scan) of the heart.
• CT brain scan to look for bleeding into the brain and exclude structural lesions.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to check for clogged blood vessels.
• Cerebral angiogram to look for blockage or narrowing of blood vessels in the brain.