A 77-year-old male is brought into the emergency department accompanied by his daughter.She reports that her father has been complaining of right-handed weakness for 2 to 3 hours and that she has noticed him slurring his speech.On physical examination,the right hand grip strength is 1/ 5 compared to the left hand grip of 5/5.A facial droop is noted on the right side of the face.Cranial nerve dysfunction is noted in the right-sided CNVII,CN V,CNIX,CNX,CNXI,and CNXII.The clinician should request the following diagnostic test immediately:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described suggest a possible stroke, and a CT scan of the head is the most appropriate initial diagnostic test to evaluate for a potential acute ischemic event. An MRI may ultimately provide more detailed information, but a CT scan is faster and more readily available in the emergency setting. A lumbar puncture and ECG may be indicated for certain cases, but are not the initial test of choice for evaluating a possible stroke.

A 77-Year-Old Male Is Brought into the Emergency Department Accompanied