Carotid angioplasty and stenting: new horizons.

Advances in technology have made it possible for lesions that affect the carotid artery, both extra-and intracranially, to be treated by endovascular means. Depending upon the type and location of the pathology, as well as the existing comorbidities in any given patient, angioplasty and stenting may be considered an alternative to traditional methods of revascularization. In fact, in some instances, endovascular therapy may be the procedure of choice. For patients whose lesions can be treated either surgically or endovascularly, future randomized trials will help define the role of each type of procedure.