[Present views on classification of cerebrovascular diseases]

In conjunction with the declaration of the "brain decade" which was called for by the unfavourable position as regards early diagnosis and by inadequate treatment of cerebral diseases, the author reflects on the importance of classification of cerebrovascular diseases. He submits a historical review of different classifications of cerebrovascular diseases starting with the international classification of diseases introduced into practice as early in 1893, the clinical and research classification elaborated by Millikan in 1975--both are still used by WHO--to the most recent suggestions of Hachinski of 1990 and the Classification of spontaneous intracerebral haematoma by Mizukami elaborated in 1985. The paper contains also the author's own modification of the clinical and research classification.