The association of the presence of cortical symptoms or signs and anterior
circulation intracranial stenosis in patients with anterior circulation isc
hemia and no known extracranial carotid or cardiac etiology was studied. Fi
fteen percent (5/33) of patients with cortical symptoms or signs had sympto
matic intracranial stenosis of 50% or more by MR angiography or angiography
, compared with 0% (0/15) of those without; such findings (p < 0.005).