If symptoms went away, it's tempting to move on. But a TIA is a warning — one in five people who experience a TIA will have a full stroke within 90 days. The window to find the source and act is now.
A TIA is a warning — the risk of a full stroke is highest in the first days after it. A carotid ultrasound and echocardiogram can identify the source before it happens again. Get answers in days, not months. No referral. Book our Falmouth imaging center.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) — commonly called a mini stroke — is a brief interruption of blood flow to part of the brain. Symptoms may include sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, vision changes, or loss of balance. These symptoms typically resolve within minutes to a few hours, leaving no permanent damage. That resolution is not reassurance — it is an alarm. A TIA means something sent a clot or debris toward the brain, and the source is still there.
A TIA occurs when blood flow to a portion of the brain is temporarily blocked — usually by a small clot or embolus — and then spontaneously restores. Unlike a full stroke, no permanent brain tissue is lost. But the underlying mechanism is identical to a major stroke. Research consistently shows that TIA is one of the strongest predictors of imminent stroke: the risk is highest in the first 2 days and remains elevated for months. Early imaging workup can identify and address the source before a second, potentially disabling event occurs.
Atherosclerotic plaque builds up on the inner wall of the carotid arteries — the vessels on each side of the neck that carry blood to the brain. This plaque can narrow the artery (stenosis), reducing blood flow, or release small fragments (micro-emboli) that travel to the brain and cause TIA or stroke. A carotid duplex ultrasound directly images the artery wall, measures the degree of stenosis, and assesses flow velocity — allowing assessment of stroke risk from this source.
A significant proportion of strokes and TIAs originate from the heart rather than the carotid arteries. Atrial fibrillation — an irregular heart rhythm — allows blood to pool in the heart's upper chambers and form clots that can travel to the brain. Structural abnormalities such as a patent foramen ovale (a small hole in the heart wall) or valve disease can also generate emboli. An echocardiogram is the definitive study to evaluate the heart as a potential embolic source.
The standard post-TIA imaging protocol evaluates both the carotid arteries and the heart, since either can be the source of emboli:
Visualizes carotid artery walls, identifies plaque and stenosis, and measures blood flow velocity. Can determine whether carotid disease is the likely source of your TIA symptoms.
Real-time ultrasound imaging of all four heart chambers, valves, and wall motion. Can identify atrial enlargement, valve abnormalities, and structural findings consistent with a cardiac embolic source. Board-certified cardiologist review included.
The traditional path: PCP appointment. Referral to a neurologist. Scheduling specialist imaging. The neurology wait can stretch 4—12 weeks in Southern Maine. During that window, stroke risk remains elevated and the source goes unaddressed.
The BPD path: Book both studies today. Our registered cardiac and vascular sonographer scans at our Falmouth imaging center, or comes to your home in Southern Maine this week. A single study is $397 in Falmouth or $597 at your home. A carotid duplex and a complete echocardiogram are performed in a single visit. Written results from both, reviewed by a board-certified cardiologist, are delivered within 24—48 hours. You walk into your next appointment with actionable data — not waiting for it.
When the window is 90 days and risk peaks in the first 48 hours, getting answers in days rather than months is not a convenience — it is the correct clinical response.
Carotid Duplex: You lie on your back and turn your head slightly to each side. A hand-held probe is moved gently along both sides of the neck. No discomfort, no needles, no radiation. The scan takes approximately 30 minutes and directly images the carotid artery wall and blood flow in real time.
Echocardiogram: You lie on your left side. Gel is applied to the chest and a probe is moved across the surface. All four chambers, valves, and wall motion are imaged in real time. The exam takes 30—45 minutes and is completely painless. A board-certified cardiologist reviews the complete study and provides a written report with findings and recommendations within 24—48 hours.
A TIA is a brief interruption of blood flow to part of the brain. Because symptoms resolve, many people dismiss it. This is a critical mistake: even with prompt specialist care, about 4 percent of people have a full stroke within 90 days of a TIA, and roughly 40 percent of those strokes come in the first two days (NEJM, 2016). Identifying and treating the underlying cause is the most effective stroke prevention available.
The standard post-TIA evaluation includes a carotid duplex ultrasound (to check for carotid plaque or stenosis) and an echocardiogram (to check for a cardiac embolic source). Together, these two studies identify the most common anatomical sources of stroke risk. At BlackPoint Diagnostics, both can be completed within days — at our Falmouth imaging center, without a referral.
A carotid duplex ultrasound visualizes the carotid arteries that supply the brain, identifies plaque buildup on the artery wall, measures the degree of narrowing (stenosis), and assesses blood flow velocity. Significant carotid stenosis is a major — and treatable — stroke risk factor. The exam is non-invasive, painless, and takes about 45 minutes.
No referral is required. You can schedule both studies directly. Written reports are delivered within 24—48 hours, with findings and recommendations you can bring to your neurologist or primary care physician.
Southern Maine · Falmouth Imaging Center · This Week
A carotid duplex and echocardiogram at our Falmouth imaging center can identify the source of your TIA this week — before it happens again. No referral. No hospital wait.
Book Carotid + EchoCarotid Duplex $397 · Echocardiogram $397 · No Referral · Southern Maine
Package pricing available when combining multiple scans.
