title: Diagnosis of intracranial atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intracranial atherosclerosis is quickly becoming the most common stroke mechanism worldwide. Accurate diagnosis is important in making treatment decisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this article the clinical and radiographic diagnosis of intracranial atherosclerosis is reviewed. An overview is provided of widely available invasive and non-invasive methods for the detection of intracranial atherosclerosis, including transcranial Doppler, magnetic resonance and computed tomography angiography, as well as conventional angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reader will become familiar with the advantages and limitations of various imaging modalities used in the diagnosis of intracranial atherosclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-invasive imaging modalities have a high negative predictive value in detecting intracranial atherosclerosis. The gold standard for confirmation of the diagnosis remains catheter angiography.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Stroke Division, Boston, MA, USA +617 632 8911 lcaplan@bidmc.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rebovich
authors.forename: Ennis Jesus
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Duffis
authors.forename: Louis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Caplan