FABS: An Intuitive Tool for Screening of Stroke Mimics in the Emergency Department

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE—A large number of patients with symptoms of acute cerebral ischemia are stroke mimics (SMs). In this study, we sought to develop a scoring system (FABS) for screening and stratifying SM from acute cerebral ischemia and to identify patients who may require magnetic resonance imaging to confirm or refute a diagnosis of stroke in the emergency setting. METHODS—We designed a scoring systemFABS (6 variables with 1 point for each variable present)absence of Facial droop, negative history of Atrial fibrillation, Age