Abstract
The presented article summarizes the algorithm for the diagnostic evaluation of patients with ischemic stroke. The general principles of stroke etiology classification, i.e. causative and phenotypic, are discussed.
The classification system deemed the most practical for daily clinical practice SSS-TOAST is described in detail. SSS-TOAST is an upgrade of the most widely used classification system TOAST.
It divides the ischemic strokes into five etiology subgroups (cardioembolic, large artery atherosclerosis, small artery occlusion, other etiology and undetermined). Based on the weight of evidence, each subtype is subdivided into three subcategories as evident, probable, or possible.
The algorithm defines three diagnostic panels - basic (for ischemic stroke patients), advanced (if the basic panel examinations are negative or in all young stroke patients), and detailed (highly selective examinations for the rare causes of ischemic stroke).