Narrowing or stricture of any part of the carotid arteries, most often due to atherosclerotic plaque formation. Ulcerations may form in atherosclerotic plaques and induce THROMBUS formation. Platelet or cholesterol emboli may arise from stenotic carotid lesions and induce a TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK; CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT; or temporary blindness (amaurosis fugax). (From Adams et al., Principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp 822-3)