Diagnostic assessment
The laboratory and instrumental examinations were made after the patient’s admission to the neurological unit in order to identify possible causes of the disease, as well as to exclude other pathologies with similar clinical features.
Blood tests revealed relative and absolute monocytosis, absolute basophilia, platelet size decrease, increased levels of total and conjugated bilirubin, an increase in prothrombin time as well as an increased fibrinogen level. In addition, an increase in total cholesterol level (6.7 mmol / L) was observed, which, according to the SCORE table for European regions indicates a very high risk of developing fatal cardiovascular diseases for this patient (≥10%) [8].
The patient underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging, on which the diffusion restriction zone without clear contours and smoothing of the adjacent furrows was found in the right temporo-occipital region, measuring 30 × 90 × 40 mm (Figure 1). A focus with similar characteristics was also visualized in the right thalamus. MRI data confirmed the clinically diagnosed cerebral infarction in the RPCAT basin.