Micro-balloon-assisted embolization of anterior cranial fossa dural arteriovenous fistula via a trans-ophthalmic approach - a technical report and case series.

PURPOSE: Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVF) account for approximately 10-15% of all intracranial arteriovenous abnormalities. dAVFs carry a significant risk of mortality, particularly in cases of acute hemorrhage, of up to 10%. A small proportion of these dAVFs are found in the anterior cranial fossa (ACF), of which the rate of hemorrhage can be as high as up to 91%. The Scepter Mini (SM) is the smallest dual-lumen micro-balloon (MB) available for neurointerventional practice. It consists of a 2.8 French outer diameter, with a 2.2 mm × 9 mm semi-compliant balloon providing a working length of 165 cm. The SM is navigated with a 0.008-inch wire making it a particularly attractive tool accessible to the pedicles normally reached with liquid embolization micro-catheters. METHODS: Five consecutive patients over a 1-year period between 2020 and 2021 were evaluated and treated for ACF dAVF using a liquid embolization approach using the SM balloon. All patients were treated using ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), of which Squid 18 and/or Squid 12 were the chosen viscosities. Control angiograms were performed for all patients post-embolization. RESULTS: All patients demonstrated complete occlusion of the ACF dAVF on immediate post-treatment angiography. No immediate complications were encountered; particularly, there were no reports of visual field deficit in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: The MB is a valuable adjunctive tool that can enhance the safety and efficacy of trans-ophthalmic embolization of ACF dAVFs, providing additional protection to the retinal and posterior ciliary arteries against unwanted reflux of liquid embolic agent.

Concordance between the Wada test and neuroimaging lateralization: Influence of imaging modality (fMRI and MEG) and patient experience.

The Wada test remains the traditional test for lateralizing language and memory function prior to epilepsy surgery. Functional imaging, particularly functional MRI (fMRI), has made progress in the language domain, but less so in the memory domain. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) has received less research attention, but shows promise, particularly for language lateralization. We recruited a consecutive sample of 19 patients with epilepsy who had completed presurgical work-up, including the Wada test, and compared fMRI (memory) and MEG (language and memory) with Wada test results. The main research question was the concordance between Wada and these two imaging techniques as preepilepsy surgery investigations. We were also interested in the acceptability of the three techniques to patients. Concordance rates (N=16) were nonsignificant (Cohen's Kappa) between fMRI and Wada test (memory) and between MEG and Wada test (memory and language). The Wada test was a well-established protocol used at several epilepsy surgery centers in the UK. Patients generally found the Wada test an odd, but not aversive procedure. Sixteen (84%) patients who were scanned reported some level of obtundation in MEG. We present these discordant findings in support of the position that functional imaging and the Wada test are distinctive procedures, with little in the way of overlapping mechanisms, and that patient's experience should be taken into account when procedures are selected and offered to them.

Large Single-Center Experience with Short-Term Follow-up of Neqstent-Assisted Coiling.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular treatment of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms has historically proved difficult with variable outcomes. Different endovascular techniques such as balloon-assisted coiling, stent-assisted coiling, or intrasaccular devices provide a varied range of efficacy and safety. Neqstent-assisted coiling is a new device and technique that aim to provide a maximum of both. We analyzed the early clinical and radiologic outcomes after the use of this new technique and device in our practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with the Neqstent. The primary radiologic outcomes were quantified on DSA, CTA, or MRA using the modified Raymond-Roy criteria. The outcomes were defined as immediate complete occlusion (modified Raymond-Roy criteria 1) and complete (modified Raymond-Roy criteria 1) and adequate occlusion (modified Raymond-Roy criteria 1 and modified Raymond-Roy criteria 2) at 6 months posttreatment. The primary safety outcome was the rate of device-related adverse events. Secondary safety outcomes included time to discharge and change in the mRS score at 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty patients were treated with the Neqstent from November 2020 to January 2023. Nine had unruptured aneurysms, and 11 were patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage due to ruptured aneurysms. Eighteen of 20 aneurysms (90%) treated demonstrated complete occlusion (modified Raymond-Roy criteria 1) on immediate postembolization angiograms. Sixteen of 17 aneurysms treated (94.1%) remained adequately occluded on 6-month follow-up (modified Raymond-Roy criteria 1 and modified Raymond-Roy criteria 2). Immediate postoperative complications occurred in 2 patients; only 1 patient had residual neurologic deficits at 6 months (mRS = 2). CONCLUSIONS: Management of large, wide-neck aneurysms remains difficult, with high rates of recurrence and complications. The use of the Neqstent shows promising short-term results for the treatment of complex wide-neck aneurysms. Initial complication rates for our cohort were relatively high. However, this result is likely related to the initial learning experience of device deployment and the use of antiplatelets.

A large UK single-centre experience in the long-term safety and efficacy of Woven Endobridge in the treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms and risk factors associated with re-bleeding and re-treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Endovascular treatment of wide neck aneurysms remains complicated with a determined and continuous technological effort towards treatment options that can offer safer and efficacious outcomes. The Woven Endobridge device was introduced in 2010 and has become a mainstay endovascular treatment for wide neck and large intracranial aneurysms. A recent review of the Woven Endobridge Clinical Assessment of Intrasaccular Aneurysm Therapy (WEBCAST) and WEBCAST2 trials and the five-year follow-up of patients was published. Our aim is to demonstrate real-life experience of aneurysms and patients treated with Woven Endobridge from a large high-volume specialist centre. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients treated with Woven Endobridge from March 2013 to March 2018. Primary efficacy outcomes were defined as per Raymond-Roy Occlusion Criteria (RROC) resulting in long-term complete occlusion (RROC1) and adequate occlusion (RROC1 and RROC2). Primary Safety outcomes were defined as procedure-related morbidity, rate of re-bleeding and rate of re-treatment. RESULTS: Seventy-nine aneurysms were treated during the five-year period. Adequate aneurysm occlusion (RROC1 and RROC2) achieved was 81%. Retreatment was required in 18% of patients (14/79). Greater retreatment rate was demonstrated in partially thrombosed aneurysms, aneurysms with larger neck and dome diameter and dome heights. CONCLUSION: Woven Endobridge treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms offers a safe and efficacious outcome. This large UK single-centre experience demonstrates congruity with recent five-year outcomes of WEBCAST and WEBCAST2 trials.

Contour Neurovascular System for endovascular embolization of cerebral aneurysms: a multicenter cohort study of 10 European neurovascular centers.

BACKGROUND: Intrasaccular devices have become increasingly popular in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms, particularly at the bifurcation. Here we evaluate the Contour Neurovascular System, an intrasaccular device for the endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms, in a multicenter cohort study, the largest to the best of our knowledge. METHODS: Consecutive patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the Contour Neurovascular System between February 2017 and October 2022 at 10 European neurovascular centers were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. Patient and aneurysm characteristics, procedural details, and angiographic and clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 279 aneurysms (median age of patients 60 years, IQR 52-68) were treated with Contour. In 83.2% of patients the device was placed electively, whereas the remaining patients were treated in the setting of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. The most common locations were the middle cerebral artery (26.5%) followed by the anterior communicating region (26.2%). Median aneurysm dome and neck size were 5.2 mm (IQR 4.2-7) and 3.9 mm (IQR 3-5). Contour size 7 (39%) and 9 (25%) were most used. Thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications occurred in 6.8% and 0.4% of aneurysms, respectively. Raymond-Roy 1 and 2 occlusions at last follow-up were achieved in 63.2% and 28.3%, respectively, resulting in adequate occlusion of 91.5% of aneurysms. CONCLUSION: This is the largest multicenter study reporting the outcome on the Contour Neurovascular System. At 1 year, the self-evaluated data on safety and efficacy are comparable to data of existing intrasaccular devices. Contour is a promising technology in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms.

Post-mortem imaging as an alternative to autopsy in the diagnosis of adult deaths: a validation study.

BACKGROUND: Public objection to autopsy has led to a search for minimally invasive alternatives. Imaging has potential, but its accuracy is unknown. We aimed to identify the accuracy of post-mortem CT and MRI compared with full autopsy in a large series of adult deaths. METHODS: This study was undertaken at two UK centres in Manchester and Oxford between April, 2006, and November, 2008. We used whole-body CT and MRI followed by full autopsy to investigate a series of adult deaths that were reported to the coroner. CT and MRI scans were reported independently, each by two radiologists who were masked to the autopsy findings. All four radiologists then produced a consensus report based on both techniques, recorded their confidence in cause of death, and identified whether autopsy was needed. FINDINGS: We assessed 182 unselected cases. The major discrepancy rate between cause of death identified by radiology and autopsy was 32% (95% CI 26-40) for CT, 43% (36-50) for MRI, and 30% (24-37) for the consensus radiology report; 10% (3-17) lower for CT than for MRI. Radiologists indicated that autopsy was not needed in 62 (34%; 95% CI 28-41) of 182 cases for CT reports, 76 (42%; 35-49) of 182 cases for MRI reports, and 88 (48%; 41-56) of 182 cases for consensus reports. Of these cases, the major discrepancy rate compared with autopsy was 16% (95% CI 9-27), 21% (13-32), and 16% (10-25), respectively, which is significantly lower (p<0·0001) than for cases with no definite cause of death. The most common imaging errors in identification of cause of death were ischaemic heart disease (n=27), pulmonary embolism (11), pneumonia (13), and intra-abdominal lesions (16). INTERPRETATION: We found that, compared with traditional autopsy, CT was a more accurate imaging technique than MRI for providing a cause of death. The error rate when radiologists provided a confident cause of death was similar to that for clinical death certificates, and could therefore be acceptable for medicolegal purposes. However, common causes of sudden death are frequently missed on CT and MRI, and, unless these weaknesses are addressed, systematic errors in mortality statistics would result if imaging were to replace conventional autopsy. FUNDING: Policy Research Programme, Department of Health, UK.

A review and journey in intrasaccular treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

The invested effort and collaboration of clinicians and medical device companies to improve occlusion rates and clinical outcomes for patients with intracranial aneurysms treated via less invasive endovascular means led to the development of the concept of intrasaccular devices. Intrasaccular devices were introduced to offer simple treatment options, offering easier navigation through difficult anatomy, simpler and quicker deployment into large and wide-neck aneurysms. Additionally, they offer easier sizing, whilst offering a wide range of options suitable for aneurysms of different sizes. The concept of most intrasaccular devices is to occupy the aneurysm neck, however offering better stability than simple coiling, therefore increasing the chance of long-term aneurysm occlusion. This is achieved without a sizable metal content within the parent vessel, contrary to flow diverters, theoretically reducing the risk of thromboembolic events. This review aims to discuss the history and latest developments of intrasaccular intracranial devices, which offer an exciting and potentially successful option for treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms.

Single centre experience of stent-assisted coiling of wide-necked basilar tip aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To report clinical and radiological follow-up outcomes of stent-assisted coiling of wide-necked basilar tip aneurysms and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this treatment choice. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out of 19 patients with wide-necked basilar tip aneurysms in our institution between 2010 and 2020. The rates of perioperative complication, morbidity, mortality, imaging follow-up and re-treatment were analysed. RESULTS: Our technical complication rate was 11% but did not result in treatment failure. The combined procedure related morbidity and mortality rate of the 19 patients who underwent stent assisted coiling was also 11%. 16 of 19 patients had undergone angiographic follow-up with a mean period of 32 months. 81% of patients with angiographic follow-up had a satisfactory occlusion (RROI or II) with 11% requiring re-treatment. Those requiring re-treatment were both treated with laser-cut stents; this is in contrast with no re-treatments required in the patients treated with braided stents. CONCLUSION: Our report provides acceptable outcomes in wide-necked basilar termination aneurysms which are very challenging to treat. Aneurysms treated with braided stents had better efficacy outcomes than those with laser-cut stents. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Given the emergent and increasing utility of alternative endovascular techniques such as intrasaccular devices and flow diverters, real-world data are lacking on more conventional approaches such stent-assisted coiling, especially so in the posterior circulation. The associated relatively higher aneurysmal haemorrhagic risk in this location warrants further additional safety and efficacy data for this treatment approach, which this paper provides.

High variability in physician estimations of flow-diverting stent deployment versus PreSize Neurovascular software simulation: a comparison study.

BACKGROUND: Physician variablity in preoperative planning of endovascular implant deployment and associated inaccuracies have not been documented. This study aimed to quantify the variability in accuracy of physician flow diverter (FD) planning and directly compares it with PreSize Neurovascular (Oxford Heartbeat Ltd) software simulations. METHODS: Eight experienced neurointerventionalists (NIs), blinded to procedural details, were provided with preoperative 3D rotational angiography (3D-RA) volumetric data along with images annotated with the distal landing location of a deployed Surpass Evolve (Stryker Neurovascular) FD from 51 patient cases. NIs were asked to perform a planning routine reflecting their normal practice and estimate the stent's proximal landing using volumetric data and the labeled dimensions of the FD used. Equivalent deployed length estimation was performed using PreSize software. NI- and software-estimated lengths were compared with postprocedural observed deployed stent length (control) using Bland-Altman plots. NI assessment agreement was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: The mean accuracy of NI-estimated deployed FD length was 81% (±15%) versus PreSize's accuracy of 95% (±4%), demonstrating significantly higher accuracy for the software (p<0.001). The mean absolute error between estimated and control lengths was 4 mm (±3.5 mm, range 0.03-30.2 mm) for NIs and 1 mm (±0.9 mm, range 0.01-3.9 mm) for PreSize. No discernable trends in accuracy among NIs or across vasculature and aneurysm morphology (size, vessel diameter, tortuousity) were found. CONCLUSIONS: The study quantified experienced physicians' significant variablity in predicting an FD deployment with current planning approaches. In comparison, PreSize-simulated FD deployment was consistently more accurate and reliable, demonstrating its potential to improve standard of practice.

Hemodynamics of thrombus formation in intracranial aneurysms: An in silico observational study.

How prevalent is spontaneous thrombosis in a population containing all sizes of intracranial aneurysms? How can we calibrate computational models of thrombosis based on published data? How does spontaneous thrombosis differ in normo- and hypertensive subjects? We address the first question through a thorough analysis of published datasets that provide spontaneous thrombosis rates across different aneurysm characteristics. This analysis provides data for a subgroup of the general population of aneurysms, namely, those of large and giant size (>10 mm). Based on these observed spontaneous thrombosis rates, our computational modeling platform enables the first in silico observational study of spontaneous thrombosis prevalence across a broader set of aneurysm phenotypes. We generate 109 virtual patients and use a novel approach to calibrate two trigger thresholds: residence time and shear rate, thus addressing the second question. We then address the third question by utilizing this calibrated model to provide new insight into the effects of hypertension on spontaneous thrombosis. We demonstrate how a mechanistic thrombosis model calibrated on an intracranial aneurysm cohort can help estimate spontaneous thrombosis prevalence in a broader aneurysm population. This study is enabled through a fully automatic multi-scale modeling pipeline. We use the clinical spontaneous thrombosis data as an indirect population-level validation of a complex computational modeling framework. Furthermore, our framework allows exploration of the influence of hypertension in spontaneous thrombosis. This lays the foundation for in silico clinical trials of cerebrovascular devices in high-risk populations, e.g., assessing the performance of flow diverters in aneurysms for hypertensive patients.

Outcome study of the Pipeline Vantage Embolization Device (second version) in unruptured (and ruptured) aneurysms (PEDVU(R) study).

BACKGROUND: The Pipeline Vantage Embolization Device (PEDV) is the fourth-generation pipeline flow diverter for intracranial aneurysm treatment. There are no outcome studies for the second PEDV version. We aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy outcomes. Primary and secondary objectives were to determine outcomes for unruptured and ruptured cohorts, respectively. METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective and prospective study, we analyzed outcome data from eight centers using core laboratory assessments. We determined 30-day and ≥3-month mortality and morbidity rates, and 6- and 18-month radiographic aneurysm occlusion rates for procedures performed during the period July 2021-March 2023. RESULTS: We included 121 consecutive patients with 131 aneurysms. The adequate occlusion rate for the unruptured cohort at short-term and medium-term follow up, and also for the ruptured cohort at short-term follow up, was >90%. Two aneurysms (1.5%) underwent retreatment. When mortality attributed to a palliative case in the unruptured cohort, or subarachnoid hemorrhage in the ruptured cohort, was excluded then the overall major adverse event rate in respective cohorts was 7.5% and 23.5%, with 0% mortality rates for each. When all event causes were included on an intention-to-treat basis, the major adverse event rates in respective cohorts were 8.3% and 40.9%, with 0.9% and 22.7% mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: For unruptured aneurysm treatment, the second PEDV version appears to have a superior efficacy and similar safety profile to previous-generation PEDs. These are acceptable outcomes in this pragmatic and non-industry-sponsored study. Analysis of ruptured aneurysm outcomes is limited by cohort size. Further prospective studies, particularly for ruptured aneurysms, are needed.

How precise is PreSize Neurovascular? Accuracy evaluation of flow diverter deployed-length prediction.

OBJECTIVE: The use of flow-diverting stents has been increasingly important in intracranial aneurysm treatment. However, accurate sizing and landing zone prediction remain challenging. Inaccurate sizing can lead to suboptimal deployment, device waste, and complications. This study presents stent deployment length predictions offered in medical software (PreSize Neurovascular) that provides physicians with real-time planning support, allowing them to preoperatively "test" different devices in the patient's anatomy in a safe virtual environment. This study reports the software evaluation methodology and accuracy results when applied to real-world data from a wide range of cases and sources as a necessary step in demonstrating its reliability, prior to impact assessment in prospective clinical practice. METHODS: Imaging data from 138 consecutive stent cases using the Pipeline embolization device were collected from 5 interventional radiology centers in the United Kingdom and retrospectively analyzed. Prediction accuracy was calculated as the degree of agreement between stent deployed length measured intraoperatively and simulated in the software. RESULTS: The software predicted the deployed stent length with a mean accuracy of 95.61% (95% confidence interval [CI] 94.87%-96.35%), the highest reported accuracy in clinical stent simulations to date. By discounting 4 outlier cases, in which events such as interactions with coils and severe push/pull maneuvers impacted deployed length to an extent the software was not able to simulate or predict, the mean accuracy further increases to 96.13% (95% CI 95.58%-96.69%). A wide discrepancy was observed between labeled and measured deployed stent length, in some cases by more than double, with no demonstrable correlation between device dimensions and deployment elongation. These findings illustrate the complexity of stent behavior and need for simulation-assisted sizing for optimal surgical planning. CONCLUSIONS: The software predicts the deployed stent length with excellent accuracy and could provide physicians with real-time accurate device selection support.

Current approaches and advances in the imaging of stroke.

A stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is suddenly interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen and glucose and leading to further cell death. Neuroimaging techniques, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, have greatly improved our ability to visualise brain structures and are routinely used to diagnose the affected vascular region of a stroke patient's brain and to inform decisions about clinical care. Currently, these multimodal imaging techniques are the backbone of the clinical management of stroke patients and have immensely improved our ability to visualise brain structures. Here, we review recent developments in the field of neuroimaging and discuss how different imaging techniques are used in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of stroke.

Endovascular treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms using the novel Contour Neurovascular System: a single-center safety and feasibility study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms pose a significant challenge to the treating clinician. The Contour Neurovascular System embolization device is a novel tool for the treatment of such intracranial aneurysms. We report on our experience with this device. METHODS: Prospective clinical and radiological data were collected for all patients treated with the Contour device at our center. All our patients were treated on an elective basis. RESULTS: We have treated 11 patients successfully with the Contour device to date. All patients were women with a mean (SD) age of 65.0 (6.4) years. In total, four basilar tip, two internal carotid artery, three middle cerebral artery, one anterior communicating artery, and one superior cerebellar artery aneurysms were treated. At 1-year follow-up, complete occlusion (Raymond Class 1) was seen in 55.56% (5/9) of cases, with 44.44% (4/9) having small neck remnants (Raymond Class 2). One patient declined 1-year catheter angiography and another had no further follow-up due to an unrelated medical condition. For six patients, 2-year radiological follow-up is available and shows stability. At 6 weeks, nine of the 11 patients had a modifed Rankin Scale score of 0, with two patients scoring 1 for headaches. Two patients had thromboembolic events, but there were no complications leading to permanent neurological disability or death. We additionally had three patients where the Contour device was attempted but was unable to be successfully used. CONCLUSION: Initial results are promising although larger case numbers and longer follow-up are necessary to draw further conclusions on the utility and risk profile of this new device.

Delayed mid-basilar artery stenosis following paediatric acute mechanical thrombectomy: a rare complication from a rare case.

There is limited literature on the use of mechanical thrombectomy with stent-retrievers in paediatric stroke, especially in the posterior circulation. We report a paediatric case of acute basilar artery occlusion successfully treated by mechanical thrombectomy using stent-retriever but complicated by delayed basilar artery stenosis. This case emphasises prudent selection of thrombectomy device and meticulous long-term follow-up when employed in paediatric stroke.

Safety results from the treatment of 109 cerebral aneurysms using the Woven EndoBridge technique: preliminary results in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE The Woven Endobridge (WEB) device has been in clinical use for the treatment of brain aneurysms for the past 4 years. Observational studies to assess clinical outcome and related complications have been published. Clear evidence is required to better understand the safety profile of the WEB device. The authors here present a multicenter series that provides a detailed safety analysis focused on patient selection, procedural events, and technical issues of treated patients throughout the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS A nationwide password-protected database was set up to collect anonymous information across the UK (14 centers). Complications and clinical outcome were analyzed for the initial 109 patients (112 procedures). An independent root cause analysis classified the complications into groups (procedural, disease, device, ancillary device, and other). The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used as a marker of clinical outcome. RESULTS Each of the 109 patients had 1 aneurysm suitable for WEB treatment (109 aneurysms). Three patients had 2 procedures, making a total of 112 procedures performed. Eight procedures were abandoned because of access issues; 2 patients went on to have a successful procedure. All 109 patients had a preprocedure and discharge mRS scores recorded. One hundred patients had a recorded mRS score from a > 3-month follow-up. Deployment of the WEB device was successful in 103 (94.5%) of 109 patients and 104 (92.9%) of 112 procedures. One patient had 2 successful WEB procedures on separate occasions. Patients without a successfully implanted WEB device were included in the analysis. Selection analysis showed that the average patient age was 56.5 years among 34 men and 75 women. The percentage of incidental aneurysms was 58.7%, acute 16.5%, symptomatic 18.3%, and recurrent 6.4%. Further results analysis showed that 40 (36.7%) of 109 patients had recorded adverse events, including those unrelated to the WEB device. Events that could be related to the WEB device numbered 17 (15.6%) among the 109 patients. Two patients with device-related complications were symptomatic. Overall, 11 patients (10.1%) had persistent clinical sequelae. Thromboembolism was the most prevalent event, affecting 15.6% of the patients (17 of 109), and 6.4% of the patients (7 of 109) with a thromboembolism were symptomatic. Overall mortality before discharge was 0% and at the > 3-month follow-up was 5% (5 of 100 patients). Morbidity was defined as an mRS score increase to > 2. Overall morbidity at discharge was 1.8% (2 of 109) and at the > 3-month follow-up was 6% (6 of 100). No device-related morbidity or mortality was associated with this group. CONCLUSIONS The UK data show that the WEB device is safe for clinical use. Thromboembolic complication adds a risk that should be minimized with appropriate anticoagulation and correct sizing of the device. There is scope for further evaluation and standardization of an anticoagulation regimen for the WEB device.

Low-Grade Glioma with Foci of Early Transformation Does Not Necessarily Require Adjuvant Therapy After Radical Surgical Resection.

BACKGROUND: Low-grade glioma (LGG) is a slow-growing tumor often found in young adults with minimal or no symptoms. As opposed to true low-grade lesions such as dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors, they are associated with continuous growth and inevitable malignant transformation. METHODS: Case series of patients who have had en bloc resection of LGG with foci of anaplasia found embedded within the tumor specimen and not at margins. Patients were offered and agreed to a conservative approach avoiding adjuvant therapy. RESULTS: In the current case series, we describe a small subset of LGG that have shown foci of high-grade glioma but have shown behavior and growth tendencies similar to LGG after radical surgical resection. No patient to date has shown recurrent disease requiring adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This case series supports the use of early aggressive surgical treatment of grade II gliomas that are premalignant. It acts as proof of concept that after radical resection, the presence of small foci of transformation embedded within grade II tumor may be treated with close radiologic surveillance rather than immediate adjuvant therapy.

Virchow-Robin space dilatation may predict resistance to antidepressant monotherapy in elderly patients with depression.

BACKGROUND: Late-life depressive disorders have been linked to cerebrovascular disease (the vascular depression hypothesis). Treatment resistance may be associated with vascular-based lesions in the white matter and basal ganglia. Virchow-Robin spaces (VRS) are cerebrospinal fluid spaces associated with microangiopathy of small cerebral vessels. This study tested the hypothesis that dilation of Virchow-Robin spaces seen on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is associated with treatment resistance in elderly depressed individuals. METHODS: 50 patients with late-onset (age over 60 years) major depressive disorder (29 responders to monotherapy, 21 non-responders to monotherapy) and 35 normal volunteers were recruited. Assessment of deep white matter lesions [WML] and periventricular hyperintensities [PVH] (both with the Scheltens rating scale score, [Scheltens, P., Barkhof, F., Leys, D., et al. (1993) A semiquantative rating scale for the assessment of signal hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurol Sci;114(1):7-12.]) and the severity of VRS dilatation (using a new scale) were scored from MRI images. Statistical group comparisons and multiple regression analyses were performed to quantify the relationship between imaging features and clinical outcome. RESULTS: There was a trend for greater WML Scheltens scores in the monotherapy resistant group compared to responders and control subjects, but only using the basal ganglia VRS score was there a statistically significant difference. A score of 2 or greater on the VRS score was 80% sensitive and 62% specific in predicting non-response to antidepressant monotherapy. The VRS score accounted for 38% of the variance in the multiple regression model and the PVH score, which was an independent predictor of outcome, contributed another 6%. LIMITATIONS: Numbers are small and type II errors possible, especially for the Scheltens ratings. Treatment response was limited to response or non-response to monotherapy and was retrospectively derived. The VRS scale was originally designed for use in patients with vascular dementia and has not been used before in affective disorders. Although all depressed subjects were late-onset, it is possible that depression led to vascular disease rather than vice versa. CONCLUSION: VRS dilatation is common in diseases associated with microvascular abnormality, which is the presumed basis of vascular depression in the elderly. VRS score may be useful in determining which patients are less likely to respond to antidepressant monotherapy. Prospective studies of patients with a wider range of treatment responses are indicated.

Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms using the Woven EndoBridge technique in a single center: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) is an innovative new technique for securing cerebral aneurysms. It is designed particularly for wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms that otherwise would be difficult to treat. There is a paucity of follow-up data in the literature due to the novelty of this technique. The authors reviewed their data from cases involving patients treated at Leeds General Infirmary with the WEB device. They assessed the safety and complication risk associated with the device and clinical and radiological follow-up outcomes in their patients. This is, to their knowledge, the first publication to include the new single-layer sphere device (WEB SLS) in addition to the original dual-layer (WEB DL) and the (nonsphere) single-layer (WEB SL) devices. METHODS Data from 22 patients who underwent 25 WEB treatments were analyzed. Of the 25 WEB procedures, 3 were performed on an acute basis, 1 was performed on a semiacute basis, and the remaining 21 were elective. A novel 6-point scoring system called the Leeds WEB aneurysm occlusion scale was created to ensure accurate assessment based on the morphology of the WEB device. Outcome was assessed at follow-up by MR angiography with or without digital subtraction angiography and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). RESULTS Deployment of the WEB device was successful in 22 (88%) of 25 procedures; 3 (12%) of the attempts at WEB treatment were abandoned. One of the patients in whom treatment was abandoned underwent a successful second attempt. Immediately after the 22 procedures with successful deployment, 4 (18%) of the patients had a complete occlusion of the aneurysm and WEB device; 10 (45%) had varying degrees of occlusion within the WEB device but no aneurysm neck or remnant; 3 (14%) had a neck remnant; and 5 (23%) had an aneurysm remnant. Of the patients with an aneurysm remnant, 1 had a complete aneurysm occlusion at ≥ 3-months follow-up. In total, 6 (27%) patients had a residual aneurysm at ≥ 3-months radiological follow-up. One of these patients was admitted with hydrocephalus secondary to a recurrent aneurysm and later received a second WEB treatment with additional coiling. Only 1 patient developed new neurological symptoms. This patient went from an mRS score of 0 to a score of 1 and had radiological evidence of a thromboembolic event. Two patients showed radiological evidence of a new thromboembolic event on follow-up MRI but were clinically asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS The WEB has shown itself to be a promising new device with the potential to increase the scope of treatment for difficult wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. The technique is safe, and short-term results show effective occlusion of complex aneurysms with minimal complications associated with the procedure. Long-term efficacy, however, still needs to be assessed.