The differential diagnosis of "little strokes".

Introduction The more widespread appreciation of the fact that transient ischaemic cerebrovascular attacks (TIAs) often give warning of an impending completed stroke has been a significant advance in the management of cerebrovascular disease. An increasing number of patients are now referred for investigation after they have experienced only one or two TIAs while there may still be time to prevent the development of a completed stroke. Whilst the pathological basis for the great majority of TIAs is atheroma, it should not be forgotten that they may be associated with other types of pathology. Similarly, focal neurological disturbances which are too prolonged to justify the label TIA, and yet, by remitting, do not earn the title of a completed stroke, may also be associated with a pathology other than atheroma. The purpose of the present paper is to call attention to some of these by recounting brief case histories of fourteen patients who were encountered in a series of 900 personal cases of cerebrovascular disease.