Carotid stenosis is mostly due to narrowing of the carotid lumen caused by atheromatous plaque in the carotid artery. The prevalence of carotid stenosis is high, accounting for about 9% of people over 60 years of age, mostly occurring in the bifurcation of the common carotid artery and the beginning of the internal carotid artery. Some stenotic lesions may even progress to complete occlusive lesions. Carotid stenosis can be managed medically or surgically. The main causes of carotid stenosis are atherosclerosis, aortitis and fibromuscular dysplasia, while other causes such as trauma, arterial torsion, congenital arterial atresia, tumors, arterial or periarteritis, and fibrosis after radiation therapy are less common. In the West, about 90% of carotid stenotic lesions are due to atherosclerosis. In China, aortitis is also a common cause of carotid artery stenosis. Carotid artery stenosis due to atherosclerosis is mostly seen in middle-aged and elderly people and is often accompanied by multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Carotid stenosis caused by cephalothoracic aortitis is most often seen in adolescents, especially in young women. Carotid artery stenosis due to injury or radiation has a history of corresponding injury or radiation exposure prior to the onset of the disease.