[Cerebrovascular diseases].

In the majority of the cases cerebrovascular disease is caused by atherosclerosis. Duplexsonography is the diagnostic tool of first choice. Management of cardiovascular risk factors is of paramount importance in secondary prevention of atherosclerotic vascular complications. Patients with a symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis >70% have a clear indication for revascularization. Asymptomatic patients with >60% stenosis benefit from revascularisation if the perioperative risk for death or stroke is below 3%. The optimal revascularization strategy highly depends on the expertise of the local surgeon or endovascular specialist. In younger patients with cerebrovascular disease rare causes such as dissection, large vessel arteritis, fibromuscular dysplasia or vasospasms have to be considered.