Most appropriate imaging: CT head C- (rapid assessment for hemorrhage or large infarct)
Alternatives:
- CTA head and neck C+ (usually after CT head C-)
- MRI head C-/C+ (contrast preferred; more sensitive than CT for acute infarct; can be useful after CT head C- for parenchymal imaging in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast)
- MRA head and neck C-/C+ (preferred imaging is MRA head C- with MRA neck C+)