Classification Systems

There are many ways of classifying stroke. One commonly accepted method is the Oxford Stroke Classification, also known as the Bamford classification.

The Bamford classification divides people with stroke into four different categories, according to the symptoms and signs with which they present. This classification is useful for understanding the likely underlying pathology, which in turn gives information on treatments likely to be useful and the prognosis. It is a relatively simple, robust, bedside classification using clinical information.

A CT scan can be used to further classify the type of stroke into a bleed (intracranial hemorrhage) or an infarction (thomboembolic) stroke. Clinical examination cannot do this reliably, so the CT scan is useful – but it does not make the diagnosis of stroke nor rule it out should the CT scan be normal.

The easiest way to use the Bamford classification is to look for the presence or absence of the four main features of stroke described above – hemiparesis, higher cortical dysfunction (including language problems), hemianopia and brainstem signs. Once you have this information, you can classify your patient's stroke type: lacunar stroke (LACS), partial anterior circulation stroke (PACS), total anterior circulation stroke (TACS) or posterior circulation stroke (POCS).