Validation of a post-mortem computed tomography method for age estimation based on the 4th rib in a French population.

Age estimation is a key factor for identification procedure in forensic context. Based on anthropological findings, degenerative changes of the sternal extremity of the 4th rib are currently used for age estimation. These have been adapted to post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT). The aim of this study was to validate a post-mortem computed tomography method based on a revision of the Iscan's method on a French sample. A total of 250 PMCT (aged from 18-98 years (IQR 36-68 years, median 51 years); 68 (27%) females) from the Medicolegal Institute of Paris (MLIP) were analyzed by two radiologists. The sternal extremity of 4th right rib was scored using method adapted from Iscan et al. Weighted κ was used to evaluate intra- and inter-observer reliability and Spearman correlation was performed to evaluate relationship between age and score. Confidence intervals for individual prediction of age based on 4th rib score and sex were computed with bootstrapping. The intra-observer reliability and inter-observer reliability were almost perfect (weighted κ = 0.85 [95%CI: 0.78-0.93] and 0.82 [95%CI 0.70-0.96] respectively). We confirmed a high correlation between the 4th rib score and subject age (rho = 0.72, p < 0.001), although the confidence intervals for individual age prediction were large, spanning over several decades. This study confirms the high reliability of Iscan method applied to PMCT for age estimation, although future multimodal age prediction techniques may help reducing the span of confidence intervals for individual age estimation.Trial registration: INDS 0,509,211,020, October 2020, retrospectively registered.

MRI Atlas of IDH Wild-Type Supratentorial Glioblastoma: Probabilistic Maps of Phenotype, Management, and Outcomes.

Background Tumor location is a main prognostic parameter in patients with glioblastoma. Probabilistic MRI-based brain atlases specifying the probability of tumor location associated with important demographic, clinical, histomolecular, and management data are lacking for isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild-type glioblastomas. Purpose To correlate glioblastoma location with clinical phenotype, surgical management, and outcomes by using a probabilistic analysis in a three-dimensional (3D) MRI-based atlas. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included all adults surgically treated for newly diagnosed IDH wild-type supratentorial glioblastoma in a tertiary adult surgical neuro-oncology center (2006-2016). Semiautomated tumor segmentation and spatial normalization procedures to build a 3D MRI-based atlas were validated. The authors performed probabilistic analyses by using voxel-based lesion symptom mapping technology. The Liebermeister test was used for binary data, and the generalized linear model was used for continuous data. Results A total of 392 patients (mean age, 61 years ± 13; 233 men) were evaluated. The authors identified the preferential location of glioblastomas according to subventricular zone, age, sex, clinical presentation, revised Radiation Therapy Oncology Group-Recursive Partitioning Analysis class, Karnofsky performance status, O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation status, surgical management, and survival. The superficial location distant from the eloquent area was more likely associated with a preserved functional status at diagnosis (348 of 392 patients [89%], P < .05), a large surgical resection (173 of 392 patients [44%], P < .05), and prolonged overall survival (163 of 334 patients [49%], P < .05). In contrast, deep location and location within eloquent brain areas were more likely associated with an impaired functional status at diagnosis (44 of 392 patients [11%], P < .05), a neurologic deficit (282 of 392 patients [72%], P < .05), treatment with biopsy only (183 of 392 patients [47%], P < .05), and shortened overall survival (171 of 334 patients [51%], P < .05). Conclusion The authors identified the preferential location of isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type glioblastomas according to parameters of interest and provided an image-based integration of multimodal information impacting survival results. This suggests the role of glioblastoma location as a surrogate and multimodal parameter integrating several known prognostic factors. © RSNA, 2019 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Huang in this issue.

Anaesthetic management during intracranial mechanical thrombectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis of current data.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare the clinical outcome of patients with ischaemic stroke with anterior large vessel occlusion treated with stent retrievers and/or contact aspiration mechanical thrombectomy (MT) under general anaesthesia (GA) or conscious sedation non-GA through a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: The literature was searched using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases to identify studies reporting on anaesthesia and MT. Using fixed or random weighted effect, we evaluated the following outcomes: 3-month mortality, modified Rankin Score (mRs) 0-2, recanalisation success (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) ≥2b) and symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhagic (sICH) transformation. RESULTS: We identified seven cohorts (including three dedicated randomised controlled trials), totalling 1929 patients (932 with GA). Over the entire sample, mortality, mRs 0-2, TICI≥2b and sICH rates were, respectively 17.5% (99% CI 9.7% to 29.6%; Q-value: 60.1; I2: 93%, 1717 patients), 42.1% (99% CI 33.3% to 51.7%; Q-value: 41.3; I2: 87.9%), 82.9% (99% CI 74.0% to 89.1%; Q-value: 20.7; I2: 80.6%, 1006 patients) and 5.5% (99% CI 2.8% to 10.8%; Q-value: 18.6; I2: 78.5%). MT performed in non-GA patients was associated with better 3-month functional outcome (pooled OR, 1.35; 99% CI 1.04 to 1.76; Q-value: 24.0; I2: 9.2%, 1845 patients) and lower 3-month mortality rate (pooled OR, 0.70; 99% CI 0.49 to 0.98; Q-value: 1.4; I2: 0%, 1717 patients; fixed weighted effect model) compared with GA. MT performed under conscious sedation non-GA had significantly shorter onset-to-recanalisation and onset-to-groin delay compared with GA, and recanalisation success and sICH were similar. CONCLUSION: Non-GA during MT for anterior acute ischaemic stroke with current-generation stent retriever/aspiration devices is associated with better 3-month functional outcome and lower mortality rates. These unadjusted estimates are subject to biases and should be interpreted with caution.

Optimal 4DFlow MR sequence parameters for the assessment of internal carotid artery stenosis: a simulation study.

PURPOSE: In patients with ICA stenosis, increased peak systolic velocity is a marker of stenosis at risk of ischemic stroke. 4DFlow MRI is a reproducible technique to evaluate velocities in ICA stenosis, although it seems to underestimate velocities as compared with Doppler ultrasonography. The purpose of our study was to confirm that velocities were underestimated on a new set of data acquired with a clinical 4DFlow sequence, and to devise optimal acquisition parameters for ICA stenosis exploration based on a numerical simulation. METHODS: After review board approval, 15 healthy controls and 12 patients presenting ICA stenosis were explored with Doppler ultrasonography and 4DFlow MRI. We created a 2-dimensional simulation of ICA stenosis and its corresponding 4DFlow acquisition, and compared its mean peak systolic velocity underestimation to real MRI and Doppler. We then simulated the acquisition for voxel size ranging from 0.5 to 1.25 mm and number of phases per cardiac cycle ranging from 10 to 25. RESULTS: On acquired data, 4DFlow MR underestimated peak systolic velocities (mean difference between Doppler and 4DFlow: - 35 cm/s), especially high velocities. With spatial and temporal resolutions equivalent to MR acquisition, our simulation yielded similar underestimation (mean difference: - 31 cm/s, P = 0.30). Simulations showed that 0.7-mm resolution and 20 phases per cardiac cycle would be necessary to record peak systolic velocities up to 250 cm/s. CONCLUSION: Higher spatial resolution can provide accurate peak systolic velocities measurement with 4DFlow MRI, thus allowing better ICA stenosis assessment. Further studies are needed to validate the proposed parameters.

Circumferential Thick Enhancement at Vessel Wall MRI Has High Specificity for Intracranial Aneurysm Instability.

Purpose To identify wall enhancement patterns on vessel wall MRI that discriminate between stable and unstable unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA). Materials and Methods Patients were included from November 2012 through January 2016. Vessel wall MR images were acquired at 3 T in patients with stable (incidental and nonchanging over 6 months) or unstable (symptomatic or changing over 6 months) UIA. Each aneurysm was evaluated by using a four-grade classification of enhancement: 0, none; 1, focal; 2, thin circumferential; and 3, thick (>1 mm) circumferential. Inter- and intrareader agreement for the presence and the grade of enhancement were assessed by using κ statistics and 95% confidence interval (CI). The sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of each enhancement grade for differentiating stable from unstable aneurysms was compared. Results The study included 263 patients with 333 aneurysms. Inter- and intrareader agreement was excellent for both the presence of enhancement (κ values, 0.82 [95% CI: 0.67, 0.99] and 0.87 [95% CI: 0.7, 1.0], respectively) and enhancement grade (κ = 0.92 [95% CI: 0.87, 0.95]). In unruptured aneurysms (n = 307), grade 3 enhancement exhibited the highest specificity (84.4%; 233 of 276; 95% CI: 80.1%, 88.7%; P = .02) and negative predictive value (94.3%; 233 of 247) for differentiating between stable and unstable lesions. There was a significant association between grade 3 enhancement and aneurysm instability (P < .0001). Conclusion In patients with intracranial aneurysm, a thick (>1 mm) circumferential pattern of wall enhancement demonstrated the highest specificity for differentiating between stable and unstable aneurysms. © RSNA, 2018.

Predictors of Outcome in Patients with Pediatric Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Development and Validation of a Modified Score.

Purpose To propose and validate a modified pediatric intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) (mPICH) score and to compare its association with functional outcome to that of the original PICH score. Materials and Methods Data from prospectively included patients were retrospectively analyzed. Consecutive patients with nontraumatic PICH who had undergone clinical follow-up were included. The study population was divided into a development cohort (2008-2012, n = 100) and a validation cohort (2013-2016, n = 43). An mPICH score was developed after variables associated with poor outcome were identified at multivariate analysis (King's Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury score < 5a) in the development cohort. The accuracy of the score for prediction of poor outcome was evaluated (sensitivity, specificity). Discrimination and calibration of associations between the mPICH score and poor outcome cohorts were assessed (C statistics, Hosmer-Lemeshow test). Results The mPICH score assessed as follows: brain herniation, four points; altered mental status, three points; hydrocephalus, two points; infratentorial PICH, two points; intraventricular hemorrhage, one point; PICH volume greater than 2% of total brain volume, one point. An mPICH score greater than 5 was associated with severe disability or worse, with sensitivity of 97% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 83%, 100%) and specificity of 61% (95% CI: 49%, 73%). The C statistic was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.89). In the validation cohort, sensitivity and specificity were 95.2% (95% CI: 76%, 99%) and 77% (95% CI: 55%, 92%), respectively. There was no significant difference between the observed and predicted risks of poor outcome (P = .46). Conclusion An mPICH score was developed as a simple clinical and imaging grading scale for acute prognosis in patients with PICH. © RSNA, 2017.

Treatment of cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the clinical outcome of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) patients exposed to cerebral vasospasm (CVS)-targeted treatments in a meta-analysis and to evaluate the efficacy of intra-arterial (IA) approaches in patients with severe/refractory vasospasm. METHODS: Randomised controlled trials, prospective and retrospective observational studies reporting clinical outcomes of aSAH patients exposed to CVS targeted treatments, published between 2006-2016 were searched using PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. The main endpoint was the proportion of unfavourable outcomes, defined as a modified Rankin score of 3-6 at last follow-up. RESULTS: Sixty-two studies, including 26 randomised controlled trials, were included (8,976 patients). At last follow-up 2,490 of the 8,976 patients had an unfavourable outcome, including death (random-effect weighted-average, 33.7%; 99% confidence interval [CI], 28.1-39.7%; Q value, 806.0; I 2 = 92.7%). The RR of unfavourable outcome was lower in patients treated with Cilostazol (RR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.25-0.85; P = 0.001; Q value, 1.5; I 2 = 0); and in refractory CVS patients treated by IA intervention (RR = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.57-0.80; P < 0.0001; number needed to treat with IA intervention, 6.2; 95% CI, 4.3-11.2) when compared with the best available medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment may improve the outcome of patients with severe-refractory vasospasm. Further studies are needed to confirm this result. KEY POINTS: • 33.7% of patients with cerebral Vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid-hemorrhage have an unfavorable outcome. • Refractory vasospasm patients treated using endovascular interventions have lower relative risk of unfavourable outcome. • Subarachnoid haemorrhage patients with severe vasospasm may benefit from endovascular interventions. • The relative risk of unfavourable outcome is lower in patients treated with Cilostazol.

Epileptic seizures in anaplastic gangliogliomas.

AIM: Prevalence and predictors of epileptic seizures are unknown in the malignant variant of ganglioglioma. METHODS: In a retrospective exploratory dataset of 18 supratentorial anaplastic World Health Organization grade III gangliogliomas, we studied: (i) the prevalence and predictors of epileptic seizures at diagnosis; (ii) the evolution of seizures during tumor evolution; (iii) seizure control rates and predictors of epilepsy control after oncological treatments. RESULTS: Epileptic seizures prevalence progresses throughout the natural course of anaplastic gangliogliomas: 44% at imaging discovery, 67% at histopathological diagnosis, 69% following oncological treatment, 86% at tumor progression, and 100% at the end-of-life phase. The medical control of seizures and their refractory status worsened during the tumor's natural course: 25% of uncontrolled seizures at histopathological diagnosis, 40% following oncological treatment, 45.5% at tumor progression, and 45.5% at the end-of-life phase. Predictors of seizures at diagnosis appeared related to the tumor location (i.e. temporal and/or cortical involvement). Prognostic parameters of seizure control after first-line oncological treatment were temporal tumor location, eosinophilic granular bodies, TP53 mutation, and extent of resection. Prognostic parameters of seizure control at tumor progression were a history of epileptic seizures at diagnosis, seizure control after first-line oncological treatment, eosinophilic granular bodies, and TP53 mutation. CONCLUSION: Epileptic seizures are frequently observed in anaplastic gangliogliomas and both prevalence and medically refractory status worsen during the tumor's natural course. Both oncological and antiepileptic treatments should be employed to improve the control of epileptic seizures and the quality of life of patients harboring an anaplastic ganglioglioma.

Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Vascular Hyperintensities-Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Mismatch Identifies Acute Stroke Patients Most Likely to Benefit From Recanalization.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensities (FVH) beyond the boundaries of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesion (FVH-DWI mismatch) have been proposed as an alternative to perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI)-DWI mismatch. We aimed to establish whether FVH-DWI mismatch can identify patients most likely to benefit from recanalization. METHODS: FVH-DWI mismatch was assessed in 164 patients with proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion before intravenous thrombolysis. PWI-DWI mismatch (PWITmax>6sec/DWI>1.8) was assessed in the 104 patients with available PWI data. We tested the associations between 24-hours complete recanalization on magnetic resonance angiography and 3-month favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2), stratified on FVH-DWI (or PWI-DWI) status. RESULTS: FVH-DWI mismatch was present in 121/164 (74%) patients and recanalization in 50/164 (30%) patients. The odds ratio for favorable outcome with recanalization was 16.2 (95% confidence interval, 5.7-46.5; P<0.0001) in patients with FVH-DWI mismatch and 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 0.6-12.1; P=0.22) in those without FVH-DWI mismatch (P=0.048 for interaction). Recanalization was associated with favorable outcome in patients with PWI-DWI mismatch (odds ratios, 9.9; 95% confidence interval, 3.1-31.3; P=0.0001) and in patients without PWI-DWI mismatch (odds ratios, 7.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-44.1; P=0.047), P=0.76 for interaction. CONCLUSION: The FVH-DWI mismatch may rapidly identify patients with proximal occlusion most likely to benefit from recanalization.

ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score) Assessment of the Perfusion-Diffusion Mismatch.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Rapid and reliable assessment of the perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI)/diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) mismatch is required to promote its wider application in both acute stroke clinical routine and trials. We tested whether an evaluation based on the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) reliably identifies the PWI/DWI mismatch. METHODS: A total of 232 consecutive patients with acute middle cerebral artery stroke who underwent pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging (PWI and DWI) were retrospectively evaluated. PWI-ASPECTS and DWI-ASPECTS were determined blind from manually segmented PWI and DWI volumes. Mismatch-ASPECTS was defined as the difference between PWI-ASPECTS and DWI-ASPECTS (a high score indicates a large mismatch). We determined the mismatch-ASPECTS cutoff that best identified the volumetric mismatch, defined as VolumeTmax>6s/VolumeDWI≥1.8, a volume difference≥15 mL, and a VolumeDWI<70 mL. RESULTS: Inter-reader agreement was almost perfect for PWI-ASPECTS (κ=0.95 [95% confidence interval, 0.90-1]), and DWI-ASPECTS (κ=0.96 [95% confidence interval, 0.91-1]). There were strong negative correlations between volumetric and ASPECTS-based assessments of DWI lesions (ρ=-0.84, P<0.01) and PWI lesions (ρ=-0.90, P<0.01). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a mismatch-ASPECTS ≥2 best identified a volumetric mismatch, with a sensitivity of 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.89-0.98) and a specificity of 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.89). CONCLUSIONS: The mismatch-ASPECTS method can detect a true mismatch in patients with acute middle cerebral artery stroke. It could be used for rapid screening of patients with eligible mismatch, in centers not equipped with ultrafast postprocessing software.

Does Diffusion Lesion Volume Above 70 mL Preclude Favorable Outcome Despite Post-Thrombolysis Recanalization?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Whether to withhold recanalization treatment when the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesion exceeds a given volume is unsettled. Our aim was to assess the impact of recanalization on outcome in patients with baseline DWI lesion ≥70 mL (DWI≥70 mL) treated ≤4.5 hours from onset. We hypothesized that recanalization is beneficial in a sizeable fraction of these patients and that this is associated with a larger DWI lesion reversal. METHODS: We analyzed 267 consecutive patients treated with intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator for middle cerebral artery territory stroke in whom an occlusion was present on magnetic resonance angiography and 24-hour recanalization and 90-day clinical outcome could be assessed. After stratification relative to the 70-mL DWI lesion cut point, we calculated the odds ratio for recanalization of the primary arterial occlusive lesion (AOL score ≥2) to predict favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale score ≤2). DWI lesion reversal was compared between recanalizers with DWI≥70 mL with favorable and unfavorable outcomes. RESULTS: Median (interquartile range) DWI lesion volume was 22 mL (10-60), and median onset time to imaging was 116 minutes (86-151). Twelve (22%) of the 54 patients with DWI≥70 mL experienced favorable outcome, of which 9 had recanalized. In patients with DWI≥70 mL, recanalization was significantly associated with favorable outcome after adjustment for age and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (odds ratio =4.72 [1.09-20.32]; P=0.0375). Among recanalizers with DWI≥70 mL, absolute and relative DWI reversal volumes were larger in those with favorable as compared with unfavorable outcome (18.8 mL [12.2-47.6] versus 8.5 mL [4.3-31.1]; P=0.17; and 19.6% [10.9-62.8] versus 8.7% [3.9-16.5], respectively; P=0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DWI lesion volume ≥70 mL can benefit from recanalization after intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator. This may partly reflect a larger amount of DWI lesion reversal.

Early quantitative CT perfusion parameters variation for prediction of delayed cerebral ischemia following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate the predictive value of cerebral perfusion-computerized tomography (CTP) parameters variation between day0 and day4 after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). METHODS: Mean transit time (MTT) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) values were compared between patients with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI+ group) and patients without DCI (DCI- group) for previously published optimal cutoff values and for variations of MTT (ΔMTT) and of CBF (ΔCBF) values between day0 and day4. DCI+ was defined as a cerebral infarction on 3-months follow-up MRI. RESULTS: Among 47 included patients, 10 suffered DCI+. Published optimal cutoff values did not predict DCI, either at day0 or at day4. Conversely, ΔMTT and ΔCBF significantly differed between the DCI+ and DCI- groups, with optimal ΔMTT and ΔCBF values of 0.91 seconds (83.9 % sensitivity, 79.5 % specificity, AUC 0.84) and -7.6 mL/100 g/min (100 % sensitivity, 71.4 % specificity, AUC 0.86), respectively. In multivariate analysis, ΔCBF (OR = 1.91, IC95% 1.13-3.23 per each 20 % decrease of ΔCBF) and ΔMTT values (OR = 14.70, IC95% 4.85-44.52 per each 20 % increase of ΔMTT) were independent predictors of DCI. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of MTT and CBF value variations between day0 and day4 may serve as an early imaging surrogate for prediction of DCI in aSAH. KEY POINTS: • CT perfusion values are an imaging surrogate for prediction of DCI. • Early variations (day0-day4) after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage predicted DCI. • A CBF decrease of 7.6 mL/min/100 g predicted DCI with 100 % sensitivity. • An MTT increase of 0.91 seconds predicted DCI with 83.9 % sensitivity. • DCI risk multiplied by 2 per 20 % ΔCBF decrease and by 15 per 20 % ΔMTT increase.

How sustained is 24-hour diffusion-weighted imaging lesion reversal? Serial magnetic resonance imaging in a patient cohort thrombolyzed within 4.5 hours of stroke onset.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Here, we assessed how sustained is reversal of the acute diffusion lesion (RAD) observed 24 hours after intravenous thrombolysis, and the relationships between RAD fate and early neurological improvement. METHODS: We analyzed 155 consecutive patients thrombolyzed intravenously 152 minutes (median) after stroke onset and who underwent 3 MR sessions: 1 before and 2 after treatment (median times from onset, 25.6 and 54.3 hours, respectively). Using voxel-based analysis of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)1, DWI2, and DWI3 lesions on coregistered image data sets, we assessed the outcome of RAD voxels (hyperintense on DWI1 but not on DWI2) as transient or sustained on DWI3, and their relationships with early neurological improvement, defined as ΔNational Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≥8 or National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≤1 at 24 hours. Tmax and apparent diffusion coefficient values were compared between sustained and transient RAD voxels. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and DWI1 lesion volume were 11 (7-18) mL and 15.6 (6.0-50.9) mL, respectively. The median (interquartile range) RAD volume on DWI2 was 2.8 (1.1-6.6) mL, of which 70% was sustained on DWI3. Sixteen (10.3%) patients had sustained RAD ≥10 mL. As compared with transient RAD voxels, sustained RAD voxels had nonsignificantly higher baseline apparent diffusion coefficient values (median [interquartile range], 793 [717-887] versus 777 [705-869]×10(-6) mm(2)·s (-1), respectively; P=0.08) and significantly better perfusion (Tmax, mean±SD, 6.3±3.2 versus 7.8±4.0 s; P<0.001). At variance with transient RAD, the volume of sustained RAD was associated with early neurological improvement in multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, [1.01-1.17], per 1-mL increase; P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: After thrombolysis, over two-thirds of the DWI lesion reversal captured on 24-hour follow-up MR is sustained. Sustained DWI lesion reversal volume is a strong imaging correlate of early neurological improvement.

The power button sign: a newly described central sulcal pattern on surface rendering MR images of type 2 focal cortical dysplasia.

PURPOSE: To compare the occurrence of several central sulcus variants and to assess the reproducibility of a sulcal pattern named the power button sign (PBS) in patients with type 2 focal cortical dysplasia (FCD2) and healthy control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The local institutional review board approved the study, and written informed consent was waived for patients and was obtained from control subjects. Four readers reviewed three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images in 37 patients (13 with negative MR imaging findings) with histologically proven FCD2 of the central region and 44 control subjects on the basis of a visual analysis of a 3D reconstruction of cortical folds. They searched for central sulcus variations (interruptions, side branches, and connections) and for a particular sulcal pattern, namely, the interposition of a precentral sulcal segment between the central sulcus and one of its hook-shaped anterior ascending branches (ie, PBS). Inter- and intraobserver reliability, specificity, and sensitivity were calculated. RESULTS: The central sulcus showed a greater number of side branches (P < .001) and was more frequently connected to the precentral sulcus (P < .001) in patients with FCD2 than in control subjects. The PBS was found in 23 (62%) of 37 total patients with FCD2, in six (46%) of 13 with negative MR imaging findings, and in only one control subject. Inter- and intraobserver rates were excellent (0.88 and 0.93, respectively) for the detection of PBS. FCD2 was located either in the depth of the ascending branch of the central sulcus (14 of 23, 61%) or in its immediate vicinity (nine of 23). CONCLUSION: Given its excellent reproducibility and specificity, the PBS, when present, could become a useful qualitative diagnostic MR criterion of FCD2 in the central region.

Intracranial Aneurysms: Recurrences More than 10 Years after Endovascular Treatment-A Prospective Cohort Study, Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) of intracranial aneurysms for recurrence, bleeding, and de novo aneurysm formation at long-term follow-up (> 10 years after treatment) with magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and to identify risk factors for recurrence through a prospective study and a systematic review of the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical examinations and 3-T MR angiography were performed prospectively 10 years after EVT of intracranial aneurysms in a single institution. Ethics committee approval and informed consent were obtained. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify studies in which authors reported bleeding and/or aneurysm recurrence rates in patients who received follow-up more than 10 years after EVT. Univariate and multivariate subgroup analyses were performed to identify risk factors (midterm MR angiographic results, aneurysm characteristics, retreatment within 5 years). RESULTS: In the prospective study, sac recanalization occurred between midterm and long-term MR angiography in 16 of 129 (12.4%) aneurysms. Grade 2 classification on the Raymond scale at midterm MR angiography (relative risk [RR], 4.16; 99% confidence interval [CI]: 2.12, 8.14) and retreatment within 5 years (RR, 4.67; 99% CI: 1.55, 14.03) were risk factors for late recurrence. In the systematic review (15 cohorts, 2773 patients, 2902 aneurysms), bleeding, aneurysm recurrence, and de novo lesion formation rates were, respectively, 0.7% (99% CI: 0.2%, 2.7%; I(2), 0%; one of 694 patients), 11.4% (99% CI: 7.0%, 18.0%; I(2), 21.6%), and 4.1% (99% CI: 1.7, 9.4%; I(2), 54.1%). Raymond grade 2 initial result (RR, 7.08; 99% CI: 1.24, 40.37; I(2), 82.6%) and aneurysm size greater than 10 mm (RR, 4.37; 99% CI: 1.83, 10.44; I(2), 0%) were risk factors for late recurrence. CONCLUSION: EVT of intracranial aneurysm is effective for prevention of long-term bleeding, but recurrences occur in a clinically relevant percentage of patients, a finding that may justify follow-up of selected patients for 10 years or more, such as patients with aneurysms larger than 10 mm or classified as Raymond grade 2 at midterm MR angiography.

Embolization in the management of recurrent secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage in children.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment (EVT) compared with iterative surgery (IS) in paediatric patients with secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage (PTH) refractory to surgical haemostasis (SH). METHODS: We retrospectively identified 424 consecutive children with secondary PTH. PTH ceased spontaneously in 215 patients, but SH was required in the remaining patients, failing in 15 cases. In these 15 children, we analyzed the benefit of EVT by comparing the outcomes of the nine patients who underwent IS with the six children who underwent an EVT. RESULTS: After a first attempt at surgical haemostasis failed, the success rate of additional surgical procedures was 50% for the second procedures (6/12) and 67% (2/3) for the third. Conversely, EVT was always successful, even though no vascular source of bleeding was found in any patient. EVT did not elicit any complications. Moreover, it tended to reduce the hospitalization duration and the number of red blood cell transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: In the event of failure of the first attempt at surgical haemostasis in the presence of secondary PTH, our study suggests that in most instances, endovascular treatment is preferred to iterative surgical haemostasis, even if no vascular source of bleeding is found. KEY POINTS: • In recurrent secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage, the rate of success declined with additional surgery. • Endovascular treatment was always successful and did not elicit any complications. • Embolization was useful even if no source of bleeding was found. • Embolization tended to reduce hospitalization duration and red blood cell transfusions. • Embolization may be considered as an alternative option to iterative surgery.

Interest of HYPR flow dynamic MRA for characterization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations: comparison with TRICKS MRA and catheter DSA.

OBJECTIVE: HYPR flow is a 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA technique providing isotropic sub-millimetre resolution with half-second temporal resolution. We compared HYPR flow and time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS) MRA for the characterization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (cAVMs), using catheter DSA as reference. METHODS: Twenty-two patients underwent HYPR flow and TRICKS MRA within 15 days of DSA. HYPR flow and TRICKS datasets were reviewed separately by two readers for image quality, Spetzler-Martin grade, venous ectasia, and deep venous drainage. RESULTS: Image quality was better for HYPR flow than for TRICKS (narrower full width at half maximum; larger arterial diagnostic window; greater number of arterial frames, P ≤ 0.05). Using HYPR flow, inter-reader agreement was excellent for all cAVM characteristics. The agreement with DSA for the overall Spetzler-Martin grade was excellent for HYPR flow (ICC = 0.96 and 0.98, depending on the reader) and TRICKS (ICC = 0.82 and 0.95). In comparison to TRICKS, HYPR flow showed higher concordance with DSA for the identification of venous ectasia and deep venous drainage. CONCLUSION: Owing to an excellent agreement with DSA with respect to depiction of the vascular architecture of cAVMs, HYPR flow could be useful for the non-invasive characterization of cAVMs. KEY POINTS: • Dynamic MRA is used for cerebral AVM depiction and follow-up • HYPR flow is a new, highly-resolved dynamic MRA sequence • HYPR flow provides whole brain coverage • HYPR flow provides excellent agreement with the Spetzler-Martin grade • Compared to TRICKS MRA, HYPR flow improves cerebral AVM characterization.

Combining intraoperative carmustine wafers and Stupp regimen in multimodal first-line treatment of primary glioblastomas.

BACKGROUND: The study investigated if intraoperative use of carmustine wafers, particularly in combination with Stupp regimen, is a viable and safe first-line treatment option of glioblastomas. METHODS: Eighty-three consecutive adult patients (50 men; mean age 60 years) with newly diagnosed supratentorial primary glioblastomas that underwent surgical resection with intraoperative carmustine wafers implantation (n = 7.1 ± 1.7) were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: The median overall survival (OS) was 15.8 months with 56 patients dying over the course of the study. There was no significant association between the number of implanted carmustine wafers and complication rates (four surgical site infections, one death). The OS was significantly longer in Stupp regimen patients (19.5 months) as compared with patients with other postoperative treatments (13 months; p = 0.002). In addition patients with eight or more implanted carmustine wafers survived longer (24.5 months) than patients with seven or less implanted wafers (13 months; p = 0.021). Finally, regardless of the number of carmustine wafers, median OS was significantly longer in patients with a subtotal or total resection (21.5 months) than in patients with a partial resection (13 months; p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The intraoperative use of carmustine wafers in combination with Stupp regimen is a viable first-line treatment option of glioblastomas. The prognostic value of this treatment association should be evaluated in a multicenter trial, ideally in a randomized and placebo-controlled one.

Mechanisms of unexplained neurological deterioration after intravenous thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Unstable clinical course characterizes the first 24 hours after thrombolysis for anterior circulation stroke, including early neurological deterioration (END), a secondary complication consistently predictive of poor outcome. Apart from straightforward causes, such as intracerebral hemorrhage and malignant edema, the mechanism of END remains unclear in the majority of cases (ENDunexplained). Based on the core/penumbra model, we tested the hypothesis that ENDunexplained is caused by infarct growth beyond the initial penumbra and assessed the associated vascular patterns. METHODS: From our database of consecutive thrombolyzed patients (n=309), we identified 10 ENDunexplained cases who had undergone both admission and 24-hour MRI. Diffusion-weighted imaging lesion growth both within and beyond the acute penumbra (Tmax>6 seconds) was mapped voxelwise. These 10 cases were compared with 30 no-END controls extracted from the database blinded to 24-hour diffusion-weighted imaging to individually match cases (3/case) according to 4 previously identified clinical and imaging variables. RESULTS: As predicted, lesion growth beyond initial penumbra was present in 9 of 10 ENDunexplained patients (substantial in 8) and its volume was significantly larger in cases than controls (2P=0.047). All ENDunexplained cases had proximal arterial occlusion initially, of which only 2 had recanalized at 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: In this exploratory study, most instances of ENDunexplained were related to diffusion-weighted imaging growth beyond acute penumbra. Consistent presence of proximal occlusion at admission and lack of recanalization at 24 hours in most cases suggest that hemodynamic factors played a key role, via for instance systemic instability/collateral failure or secondary thromboembolic processes. Preventing END after tissue-type plasminogen activator using, eg, early antithrombotics may therefore be feasible.

Unexplained early neurological deterioration after intravenous thrombolysis: incidence, predictors, and associated factors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early neurological deterioration (END) after anterior circulation stroke is a serious clinical event strongly associated with poor outcome. Regarding specifically END occurring within 24 hours of intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, apart from definite causes such as symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and malignant edema whose incidence, predictors, and clinical management are well established, little is known about END without clear mechanism (ENDunexplained). METHODS: We analyzed 309 consecutive patients thrombolysed intravenously ≤4.5 hours from onset of anterior circulation stroke. ENDunexplained was defined as a ≥4-point deterioration on 24-hour National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, without definite mechanism on concomitant imaging. ENDunexplained and no-END patients were compared for pretreatment clinical and imaging (including magnetic resonance diffusion and diffusion/perfusion mismatch volumes) data and 24-hour post-treatment clinical (including blood pressure and glycemic changes) and imaging (24-hour recanalization) data, using univariate logistic regression. Exploratory multivariate analysis was also performed after variable reduction, with bootstrap analysis for internal validation. RESULTS: Among 33 END patients, 23 (7% of whole sample) had ENDunexplained. ENDunexplained was associated with poor 3-month outcome (P<0.01). In univariate analysis, admission predictors of ENDunexplained included no prior use of antiplatelets (P=0.02), lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (P<0.01), higher glycemia (P=0.03), larger mismatch volume (P=0.03), and proximal occlusion (P=0.01), with consistent results from the multivariate analysis. Among factors recorded during the first 24 hours, only no recanalization was associated with ENDunexplained in multivariate analysis (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: ENDunexplained affected 7% of patients and accounted for most cases of END. Several predictors and associated factors were identified, with important implications regarding underlying mechanisms and potential prevention of this ominous event.