Part I: Use of Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Patients with Suspected Cardioembolic Stroke

One-sixth of all ischemic strokes are a result of embolization from the heart. Echocardiography serves as the cornerstone in evaluating patients who may have had a cardioembolic stroke. This article is the first of a two-part review series focusing on the role of echocardiography in the diagnosis and treatment of cardioembolic stroke. Specifically, this section will focus on nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation as well as cardiovascular masses as potential embolic sources.