Sequential computed tomography (CT) scans were performed for up to 7 months on patients who presented with clinical evidence of lacunar infarction or ischemia. Sixty-nine percent of the patients showed lacunar infarction, and a negative scan did not suggest a better prognosis in stroke patients. Of patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA) (lacunar), those with repeated bursts of hemiplegia (capsular warning syndrome) were more likely to be CT-positive (p less than 0.01). The clinical features of patients with lacunar infarction were examined and correlated with the features of infarction. Partial syndromes were found in 32% of the cases and included examples of monoparesis and dysarthria alone.