Endovascular treatment for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. Pitfalls and problems.

Fourty-five cases of intracranial atherosclerotic stenoses greater than 70% for intradural lesions or 60% for extradural lesions were treated by PTA or stenting. The stenotic lesions were successfully dilated in 44/45 patients and future stroke was prevented during a mean 29 month follow-up period. Stenotic ratio significantly reduced in stent-treated group compared with PTA-treated group and stenting was effective for cases refractory to PTA, such as elastic recoil or restenosis. However; stenting had its own drawbacks, such as difficulty in delivery, migration, and acute thrombosis.