Patients with transient cerebral ischemic attacks (TIAs) are generally felt to be at increased risk for stroke. A comprehensive clinical evaluation consisting of a thorough history and physical examination, as well as adjunctive laboratory and radiologic studies, is required to substantiate the diagnosis and to identify the underlying etiology. For patients with TIAs of atherothrombotic origin, the optimal course of management is still controversial. Although surgical therapy, antiplatelet therapy, and anticoagulant therapy have all shown promise in preventing stroke, their precise roles in the management of TIAs still await further elucidation.