Transient Neurological Attack: A Useful Concept?

Conceptually, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are identical to ischemic strokes except the symptoms resolve within 24 hours. The underlying causes of TIA and stroke are identical, and recommendations for diagnostic evaluation and treatment are similar.¹ Transient ischemic attack and stroke are different, however, in another important way, distinct from symptom duration: ischemic stroke is relatively easy to diagnosis with certainty, but there is often disagreement about whether a given patient has had a TIA.