[Stent-assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for intracranial vertebral and basilar artery stenosis: two case reports].

: We report two cases of patients who underwent stent-assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for intracranial vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA) stenosis. They presented with sudden onset of vertigo and right hemiparesis. Vertebral angiographies revealed severe proximal BA stenosis (case 1) and intracranial VA stenosis (case 2). They underwent angioplasty and stenting, with excellent angiographic results. The availability of new flexible intravascular stents, allowing access to tortuous proximal intracranial vessels, provides a new therapeutic approach for patients with vertebral and basilar artery stenosis.