Introduction:

A stroke mimic is any non-vascular pathology that presents as an acute ischemic stroke. The clinical presentation, the epidemiological factors, the time to onset, vascular distribution and the availability of imaging tests are factors that help to differentiate them.

Case report:

We present a case, of a woman of the third age who was taken to the emergency department due to a five-hour history of left hemiparesis. The clinical evolution and the supplementary tests allowed to exclude the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. The semiology was explained by a prolonged Todd's palsy that behaved as a stroke mimic at the acute phase and the seizures occurred in the context of a cerebral venous thrombosis.

Comments:

Stroke mimics, in contrast to acute ischemic stroke, occur in younger patients, have fewer vascular risk factors, lower NIHSS score, less aphasia and dysphagia. The main causes are seizures and syncope. Migraines, neoplasms, toxic or metabolic alterations, encephalopathies and functional disorders should also be considered. To perform a complete neurovascular study and directed tests will allow us to make the diagnosis.