Anterior circulation ischemia.

Ischemic stroke in the anterior or carotid artery territory is the most common type of stroke, with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Specific stroke syndromes reflect the vascular territories involved and range from small, lacunar infarcts to those that involve the entire middle cerebral artery territory. Diagnostic imaging with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is very useful for confirming the location and extent of anterior circulation strokes. Important advances for the acute management of these patients have occurred recently and more should be forthcoming soon.