MR Imaging of Adverse Effects and Ocular Growth Decline after Selective Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Retinoblastoma.

This retrospective multicenter study examines therapy-induced orbital and ocular MRI findings in retinoblastoma patients following selective intra-arterial chemotherapy (SIAC) and quantifies the impact of SIAC on ocular and optic nerve growth. Patients were selected based on medical chart review, with inclusion criteria requiring the availability of posttreatment MR imaging encompassing T2-weighted and T1-weighted images (pre- and post-intravenous gadolinium administration). Qualitative features and quantitative measurements were independently scored by experienced radiologists, with deep learning segmentation aiding total eye volume assessment. Eyes were categorized into three groups: eyes receiving SIAC (Rb-SIAC), eyes treated with other eye-saving methods (Rb-control), and healthy eyes. The most prevalent adverse effects post-SIAC were inflammatory and vascular features, with therapy-induced contrast enhancement observed in the intraorbital optic nerve segment in 6% of patients. Quantitative analysis revealed significant growth arrest in Rb-SIAC eyes, particularly when treatment commenced ≤ 12 months of age. Optic nerve atrophy was a significant complication in Rb-SIAC eyes. In conclusion, this study highlights the vascular and inflammatory adverse effects observed post-SIAC in retinoblastoma patients and demonstrates a negative impact on eye and optic nerve growth, particularly in children treated ≤ 12 months of age, providing crucial insights for clinical management and future research.

Cisternal nicardipine for prevention of delayed cerebral ischemia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a comparative retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Intrathecal vasoactive drugs have been proposed in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) to manage cerebral vasospasm (CV). We analyzed the efficacy of intracisternal nicardipine compared to intraventricular administration to a control group (CG) to determine its impact on delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and functional outcomes. Secondary outcomes included the need for intra-arterial angioplasties and the safety profile. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all adult patients admitted for a high modified Fisher grade aSAH between January 2015 and April 2022. All patients with significant radiological CV were included. Three groups of patients were defined based on the CV management: cisternal nicardipine (CN), ventricular nicardipine (VN), and no intrathecal nicardipine (control group). RESULTS: Seventy patients met the inclusion criteria. Eleven patients received intracisternal nicardipine, 18 intraventricular nicardipine, and 41 belonged to the control group. No cases of DCI were observed in the CN group (p = 0.02). Patients with intracisternal nicardipine had a reduced number of intra-arterial angioplasties when compared to the control group (p = 0.03). The safety profile analysis showed no difference in complications across the three groups. Intrathecal (ventricular or cisternal) nicardipine therapy improved functional outcomes at 6 months (p = 0.04) when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Administration of intrathecal nicardipine for moderate to severe CV reduces the rate of DCI and improved long-term functional outcomes in patients with high modified Fisher grade aSAH. This study also showed a relative benefit of cisternal over intraventricular nicardipine, thereby reducing the number of angioplasties performed in the post-treatment phase. However, these preliminary results should be confirmed with future prospective studies.

Predicting Penumbra Salvage and Infarct Growth in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Multifactor Survival Game.

BACKGROUND: Effective treatment of acute ischemic stroke requires reperfusion of salvageable tissue. We investigated the predictors of penumbra salvage (PS) and infarct growth (IG) in a large cohort of stroke patients. METHODS: In the ASTRAL registry from 2003 to 2016, we selected middle cerebral artery strokes <24 h with a high-quality CT angiography and CT perfusion. PS and IG were correlated in multivariate analyses with clinical, biochemical and radiological variables, and with clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Among 4090 patients, 551 were included in the study, 50.8% male, mean age (±SD) 66.3 ± 14.7 years, mean admission NIHSS (±SD 13.3 ± 7.1) and median onset-to-imaging-time (IQR) 170 (102 to 385) minutes. Increased PS was associated with the following: higher BMI and lower WBC; neglect; larger penumbra; absence of early ischemic changes, leukoaraiosis and other territory involvement; and higher clot burden score. Reduced IG was associated with the following: non-smokers; lower glycemia; larger infarct core; absence of early ischemic changes, chronic vascular brain lesions, other territory involvement, extracranial arterial pathology and hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign; and higher clot burden score. When adding subacute variables, recanalization was associated with increased PS and reduced IG, and the absence of haemorrhage with reduced IG. Collateral status was not significantly associated with IG nor with PS. Increased PS and reduced IG correlated with better 3- and 12-month outcomes. CONCLUSION: In our comprehensive analysis, multiple factors were found to be responsible for PS or IG, the strongest being radiological features. These findings may help to better select patients, particularly for more aggressive or late acute stroke treatment.

Absorbable gelatin compressed sponge (Gelfoam) embolization of distal external carotid artery branches in intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma.

BACKGROUND: In intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma, a backflow from unreachable external carotid artery branches in the ophthalmic artery can be challenging. OBJECTIVE: To describe a new endovascular technique using Gelfoam pledgets to temporarily occlude distal branches of the external carotid artery to reverse the competitive backflow into the ophthalmic artery in order to perform intra-arterial chemotherapy via the ostium of the ophthalmic artery in selected cases. METHODS: We queried our prospectively collected database of 327 consecutive patients treated for retinoblastoma by intra-arterial chemotherapy and identified those employing Gelfoam pledgets. We describe this new technique with emphasis on feasibility and safety. RESULTS: We treated 11 eyes with 14 infusions of intra-arterial chemotherapy using Gelfoam pledgets to occlude the distal branches of the external carotid artery. We report no perioperative complications due to this occlusion technique. At the ophthalmologic follow-up 1 month after the injection of Gelfoam pledgets, all cases showed tumor regression or stable disease. Two injections into the same eye as the rescue intra-arterial chemotherapy infusion resulted in a transient exudative retinal detachment, and one injection in a heavily pretreated case was followed by iris neovascularization and retinal ischemia. None of the pledget injections led to irreversible vision-threatening intraocular complications. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-arterial chemotherapy in retinoblastoma using Gelfoam to transiently occlude the distal branches of the external carotid artery and reverse the backflow into the ophthalmic artery seems feasible and safe. Larges series will help to confirm the effectiveness of this new technique.

The positive impact of cisternostomy with cisternal drainage on delayed hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus is one of the major complications of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). In the acute setting, an external ventricular drain (EVD) is used for early management. A cisternal drain (CD) coupled with the micro-surgical opening of basal cisterns can be an alternative when the aneurysm is clipped. Chronic hydrocephalus after aSAH is managed with ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt, a procedure associated with a wide range of complications. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of micro-surgical opening of basal cisterns coupled with CD on the incidence of VP shunt, compared to patients treated with EVD. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of 89 consecutive cases of patients with aSAH treated surgically and endovascularly with either EVD or CD between January 2009 and September 2021. Patients were stratified into two groups: Group 1 included patients with EVD, Group 2 included patients with CD. Subgroup analysis with only patients treated surgically was also performed. We compared their baseline characteristics, clinical outcomes and shunting rates. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of epidemiological characteristics, WFNS score, Fisher scale, presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), acute hydrocephalus, postoperative meningitis or of clinical outcomes at last follow-up. Cisternostomy with CD (Group 2) was associated with a statistically significant reduction in VP-shunt compared with the use of an EVD (Group 1) (9.09% vs 53.78%; p < 0.001). This finding was confirmed in our subgroup analysis, as among patients with a surgical clipping, the rate of VP shunt was 43.7% for the EVD group and 9.5% for the CD group (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Cisternostomy with CD may reduce the rate of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. Cisternostomy allows the removal of subarachnoid blood, thereby reducing arachnoid inflammation and fibrosis. CD may enhance this effect, thus resulting in lower rates of chronic hydrocephalus.

Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke With or Without General Anesthesia: A Matched Comparison.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment in large artery occlusion stroke reduces disability. However, the impact of anesthesia type on clinical outcomes remains uncertain. METHODS: We compared consecutive patients in the Swiss Stroke Registry with anterior circulation stroke receiving endovascular treatment with or without general anesthesia (GA). The primary outcome was disability on the modified Rankin Scale after 3 months, analyzed with ordered logistic regression. Secondary outcomes included dependency or death (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale after 24 hours, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage with ≥4 points worsening on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale within 7 days, and mortality. Coarsened exact matching and propensity score matching were performed to adjust for indication bias. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred eighty-four patients (GA: n=851, non-GA: n=433) from 8 Stroke Centers were included. Patients treated with GA had higher modified Rankin Scale scores after 3 months than patients treated without GA, in the unmatched (odds ratio [OR], 1.75 [1.42-2.16]; P<0.001), the coarsened exact matching (n=332-524, using multiple imputations of missing values; OR, 1.60 [1.08-2.36]; P=0.020), and the propensity score matching analysis (n=568; OR, 1.61 [1.20-2.15]; P=0.001). In the coarsened exact matching analysis, there were no significant differences in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale after 1 day (estimated coefficient 2.61 [0.59-4.64]), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 1.06 [0.30-3.75]), dependency or death (OR, 1.42 [0.91-2.23]), or mortality (OR, 1.65 [0.94-2.89]). In the propensity score matching analysis, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale after 24 hours (estimated coefficient, 3.40 [1.76-5.04]), dependency or death (OR, 1.49 [1.07-2.07]), and mortality (OR, 1.65 [1.11-2.45]) were higher in the GA group, whereas symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage did not differ significantly (OR, 1.77 [0.73-4.29]). CONCLUSIONS: This large study showed worse functional outcome after endovascular treatment of anterior circulation stroke with GA than without GA in a real-world setting. This finding appears to be independent of known differences in patient characteristics between groups.

Revascularization of carotid artery occlusion using stenting versus non stenting in endovascular management of tandem occlusion stroke.

INTRODUCTION: The use of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) stents after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) may be a source of morbidity and mortality. Studies comparing patients who received stenting to patients who do not receive stenting have a higher number of patients with failed intracranial reperfusion in the non-stenting cohort. In this study, we analyzed the impact of extracranial ICA stenting in tandem occlusion stroke in patients with successfully intracranial reperfusion. METHODS: This monocentric, retrospective cohort observational study reviewed all consecutive MT patients from January 2013 to January 2018. All patients with occlusions in the anterior circulation due to ICA atherosclerotic plaque embolus, TOAST 1, and were successfully reperfusion of at least 50% of the initially occluded target territory were included. Patients with a concomitant extracranial, or tandem, ICA occlusion which required MT and permanent stenting (stenting cohort) were compared to patients with extracranial atheromatous ICA plaques, which did not require permanent carotid stenting but were treated only by MT (non-stenting cohort). The three endpoints of this analysis were mortality rate at 90 days, good functional outcome defined as modified rankin scale (mRS) scores 0-2 at 90 days and symptomatic ICH (sICH). Outcomes were reported as odds ratios (ORs), indicating the odds that the intervention would lead to increased mortality rate, an improvement of at least one point on the mRS in a shift analysis and decreased rate of sICH. RESULTS: One hundred and two patients were included of which 42 were treated by MT and ICA stenting (stenting cohort) and 60 were treated by MT without stenting (non-stenting cohort). No significant differences observed as it relates to demographic data, stroke characteristics, symptom onset to groin puncture or groin puncture to final reperfusion time intervals. Univariate logistic regression showed a higher probability of mortality at 90 days in the stenting cohort than that in the non-stenting cohort (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.21-7.25, P=0.03). Stenting was not associated with a significant difference in functional independence at 90 days or rate of sICH compared to the non-stenting cohort. CONCLUSION: Stroke patients with successful intracranial reperfusion after MT had a higher probability of mortality within 90 days when concomitant stenting of the extracranial ICA was performed compared those patients who did not receive stenting.

Procedural Complications During Early Versus Late Endovascular Treatment in Acute Stroke: Frequency and Clinical Impact.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke is effective in the late time window in selected patients. However, the frequency and clinical impact of procedural complications in the early versus late time window has received little attention. METHODS: We retrospectively studied all acute ischemic strokes from 2015 to 2019 receiving EVT in the Acute Stroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne. We compared the procedural EVT complications in the early (<6 hours) versus late (6-24 hours) window and correlated them with short-term clinical outcome. RESULTS: Among 695 acute ischemic strokes receiving EVT (of which 202 were in the late window), 113 (16.3%) had at least one procedural complication. The frequency of each single, and for overall procedural complications was similar for early versus late EVT (16.2% versus 16.3%, Padj=0.90). Procedural complications lead to a significantly less favorable short-term outcome, reflected by the absence of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale improvement in late EVT (delta-National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale-24 hours, -2.5 versus 2, Padj=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective analysis of consecutive EVT, the frequency of procedural complications was similar for early and late EVT patients but very short-term outcome seemed less favorable in late EVT patients with complications.

Association of Time of Day When Endovascular Therapy for Stroke Starts and Functional Outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between EVT start time in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and mid-term functional outcome. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all AIS cases treated with EVT from two stroke center registries from January 2012 to December 2018. The primary outcome was the score on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the utility-weighted mRS (uw-mRS) at 90 days. A proportional odds model was used to calculate the common odds ratio as a measure of the likelihood that the intervention at a given EVT start time would lead to lower scores on the mRS (shift analysis). RESULTS: One thousand five hundred fifty-eight cases were equally allotted into twelve EVT-start-time periods. The primary outcome favored EVT start times in the morning at 08:00-10:20 and 10:20-11:34 (common odds ratio (OR), 0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38 to 0.75; P<0.001; OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.87; P=0.006, respectively), while it disfavored EVT start times at the end of the working day at 15:55-17:15 and 18:55-20:55 (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.09; P=0.034; OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.15; P=0.033). Symptom onset-to-EVT start time was significantly higher and use of IV t-PA significantly lower between 10:20-11:34 (P<0.004 and P=0.012, respectively). CONSLUSION: EVT for AIS in the morning leads to better mid-term functional outcome, while EVT at the end of the work day leads to poorer mid-term functional outcome. Neither difference in baseline factors, standard workflow and technical efficacy metrics could be identified as potential mediators of this effect.

Complete spontaneous thrombosis in unruptured non-giant intracranial aneurysms: A case report and systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Spontaneous partial or complete thrombosis of saccular unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIAs) is a known occurrence in giant aneurysms. However, spontaneous complete thrombosis of non-giant aneurysms is a rare event in the natural history of UIAs. The aim of this paper is to report on the cases from literature of complete spontaneous thrombosis with a view to identify possible factors associated with this phenomenon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the current literature on spontaneous complete thrombosis of saccular, non-giant, unruptured UIAs, including a case that we treated at our institution. We analysed the possible risk factors for thrombosis, association with ischemic events, rupture and recanalization. We reviewed the possible management's strategies for this group of patients described in literature to date. RESULTS: We identified 26 patients for a total of 27 thrombosed aneurysms from the literature review (including our case). Thrombosis was prevalent in women, in the anterior circulation and in larger aneurysms. Endovascular events in the parent artery, either spontaneous or iatrogenic, were associated with spontaneous thrombosis in 4 cases. In 47 % of cases an antiplatelet treatment (AP) was introduced. Rupture and recanalization of the aneurysm were observed in 14 % and 33 % respectively. A larger size was the only factor statistically associated with rupture (P = 0041). AP was not statistically associated with recanalization or rupture of the aneurysm. CONCLUSION: Complete spontaneous thrombosis is not a curative event. Its natural history is associated with recanalization, rupture and ischemic stroke. Conservative treatment with a clinical-radiological follow up and treatment with AP is a safe option for small aneurysms. Definitive aneurysmal exclusion should be considered in medium and large aneurysms due to the significant risks associated with untreated aneurysms.

Acute Stroke Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Does Confinement Impact Eligibility for Endovascular Therapy?

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organization recommended measures to mitigate the outbreak such as social distancing and confinement. Since these measures have been put in place, anecdotal reports describe a decrease in the number of endovascular therapy (EVT) treatments for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion. The purpose of our study was to determine the effect on EVT for patients with acute ischemic stroke during the COVID-19 confinement. In this retrospective, observational study, data were collected from November 1, 2019, to April 15, 2020, at 17 stroke centers in countries where confinement measures have been in place since March 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic (Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Canada, and United States). This study included 1600 patients treated by EVT for acute ischemic stroke. Date of EVT and symptom onset-to-groin puncture time were collected. Mean number of EVTs performed per hospital per 2-week interval and mean stroke onset-to-groin puncture time were calculated before confinement measures and after confinement measures. Distributions (non-normal) between the 2 groups (before COVID-19 confinement versus after COVID-19 confinement) were compared using 2-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The results show a significant decrease in mean number of EVTs performed per hospital per 2-week interval between before COVID-19 confinement (9.0 [95% CI, 7.8-10.1]) and after COVID-19 confinement (6.1 [95% CI, 4.5-7.7]), (P<0.001). In addition, there is a significant increase in mean stroke onset-to-groin puncture time (P<0.001), between before COVID-19 confinement (300.3 minutes [95% CI, 285.3-315.4]) and after COVID-19 confinement (354.5 minutes [95% CI, 316.2-392.7]). Our preliminary analysis indicates a 32% reduction in EVT procedures and an estimated 54-minute increase in symptom onset-to-groin puncture time after confinement measures for COVID-19 pandemic were put into place.

Effect of Steady and Dynamic Blood Pressure Parameters During Thrombectomy According to the Collateral Status.

Background and Purpose- Guidelines regarding blood pressure (BP) management during endovascular therapy (EVT) for anterior circulation strokes are questionable since the optimal BP target is a matter of debate. To evaluate the importance of hemodynamic control during EVT, we investigated the impact of dynamic and steady BP parameters during EVT on functional outcome (part 1) and according to the collateral status (CS; part 2). Methods- We performed a post hoc analysis of the ASTER trial (Contact Aspiration Versus Stent Retriever for Successful Recanalization). BP was measured noninvasively during EVT and CS assessed on the angiographic run before EVT. We studied dynamic BP parameter using BP variability (coefficient of variation) and steady BP parameter (hypotension time defined as systolic BP <140 mm Hg and mean arterial pressure <90 mm Hg). The primary outcome was favorable outcome defined as a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score between 0 and 2. Results- Among the 381 patients of the ASTER study, 172 patients were included in part 1 and 159 in part 2. Systolic BP, diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure variability were negatively associated with favorable outcome regardless of CS: per 10-unit increase, adjusted odds ratios were 0.45 (95% CI, 0.20-0.98), 0.37 (95% CI, 0.19-0.72), and 0.35 (95% CI, 0.16-0.76), respectively. According to CS, the hypotension time with periprocedural mean arterial pressure <90 mm Hg was negatively associated with favorable outcome in patients with poor CS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.72-1.09]) but not in patients with good CS (adjusted odds ratio, 1.24 [95% CI, 0.91-1.67]; Phet=0.047). Conclusions- The CS did not modify the association between dynamic parameters and functional outcomes, but some findings suggest that the CS modifies the association between steady parameter and functional outcomes. Hypotension time according to the CS was not statistically predictive of poor outcomes but displayed a trend toward worse outcomes for patients with poor CS only.

Hemorrhagic direct traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula during endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery: intraoperative management and endovascular treatment.

Carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is a rare complication after transsphenoidal surgery with only 10 cases published (Ahuja et al., 1992; Cinar et al., 2013; Cossu et al., 2020; Dolenc et al., 1999; Kalia et al., 2009; Karaman et al., 2009; Kocer et al., 2002; Koitschev et al., 2006; Pigott et al., 1989; Takahashi et al., 1969). Intraoperative findings vary from unrecognized events to life-threatening hemorrhages. We provide a description of the management of an acute CCF occurring during sphenoidotomy in a patient with pituitary apoplexy. Osteotomy performed in the rostrum resulted in a fracture, which extended toward the intracavernous carotid artery. Bleeding was managed with mechanical compression. Endovascular treatment allowed closure of the fistula through transarterial coiling and glue. Arterial patency was preserved and the patient had no new neurological deficit. Drilling should be considered over osteotomy for the anterior sphenoidotomy. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/0Me23xIVeNI.

Effect of the phenotype of the M1-middle cerebral artery occlusion on the recanalization rates in the ASTER trial.

INTRODUCTION: An adequate recanalization grade is an independent predictor of a good clinical outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. It can be obtained with stent retrievers (SR) and contact aspiration (CA). The aim of this ancillary study of the ASTER trial was to investigate the effect of the regular and irregular phenotype of the M1-middle cerebral artery (M1-MCA) segment occlusion on the procedural and clinical outcomes in the ASTER trial population. METHODS: The predetermined occlusion phenotype assessment was performed by the core laboratory of the ASTER trial and patients with M1-MCA occlusion were included in this study. Clinical and procedural outcomes were analyzed according to the technique used and to the occlusion phenotype. RESULTS: 188 patients were included in the analysis (95 received SR, 93 CA as first-line treatment). The occlusion phenotypes were graded as irregular in 52.7% of cases (n=99, 95% CI 45.5% to 59.8%). In patients with an irregular occlusion phenotype, complete or adequate recanalization at the end of the first-line strategy was more often achieved with SR than CA (TICI 3: SR 44.1% vs CA 22.5%, OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.89, p=0.027), with a shorter procedure time, a lower number of passes (>2 passes: SR 32.2% vs CA 57.5%, OR 3.31, 95% CI 1.36 to 8.03, p=0.009), and higher rates of favorable clinical outcome (SR 55.2% vs CA 31.6%, OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.97, p=0.042). CONCLUSION: Irregular M1-MCA occlusion phenotypes treated with SR as first-line approach were associated with better procedural and clinical outcomes in the ASTER trial population.

Twenty-Four-Hour Reocclusion After Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy: Associated Factors and Long-Term Prognosis.

Background and Purpose- Early arterial recanalization is a strong determinant of prognosis in acute ischemic stroke. Nevertheless, reocclusion can occur after initial recanalization. We assessed associated factors and long-term prognosis of reocclusion after successful mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Methods- From the prospectively constructed Acute Stroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne cohort, we included consecutive patients with anterior and posterior circulation strokes treated by successful MT (modified treatment in cerebral infarction 2b-3) and with 24-hour vascular imaging available. Reocclusion at this time-point was defined as new intracranial occlusion within an arterial segment recanalized at the end of MT. Through multivariate logistic regression, we investigated associated factors and 3-months outcome. In a 4:1 matched-cohort, we also assessed the role of residual thrombus or stenosis on post-recanalization angiographic images as potential predictor of reocclusion. Results- Among 473 patients with successful recanalization, 423 (89%) were included. Of these, 28 (6.6%) had 24-hour reocclusion. Preadmission statin therapy (aOR [adjusted odds ratio], 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08-0.94), intracranial internal carotid artery occlusion (aOR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.50-8.32), number of passes (aOR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.06-1.62), transient reocclusion during MT (aOR, 8.55; 95% CI, 2.14-34.09), and atherosclerotic cause (aOR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.34-7.37) were independently associated with reocclusion. In the matched-cohort analysis, residual thrombus or stenosis was associated with reocclusion (aOR, 15.6; 95% CI, 4.6-52.8). Patients experiencing reocclusion had worse outcome (aOR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.2-20.0). Conclusions- Reocclusion within 24-hours of successful MT was independently associated with statin pretreatment, occlusion site, more complex procedures, atherosclerotic cause, and residual thrombus or stenosis after recanalization. Reocclusion impact on long-term outcome highlights the need to monitor and prevent this early complication.

Efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke due to cervical artery dissection: A 15-year consecutive case series.

BACKGROUND: Limited observational data are available on endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke due to cervical artery dissection. Three studies comparing endovascular treatment with standard medical therapy or intravenous thrombolysis in cervical artery dissection-related acute ischemic stroke did not demonstrate superiority of endovascular treatment. Efficacy and the choice of endovascular treatment technique in this setting remain to be established. AIMS: To assess the potential efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment compared to intravenous thrombolysis alone or to no revascularization treatment in our center. METHODS: We selected all consecutive patients with cervical artery dissection-related acute ischemic stroke and intracranial occlusion from the Acute STroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne between 2003 and 2017. We compared clinical and neuroimaging data of patients treated by endovascular treatment versus patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis or patients without revascularization treatment. Safety analysis included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, major radiological hemorrhages (parenchymal hematoma 1, parenchymal hematoma 2, and subarachnoid hemorrhage) and mortality within seven days. We assessed favorable clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) at three months using a binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of the 109 patients included, 24 had endovascular treatment, 38 received intravenous thrombolysis alone, and 47 had no revascularization treatment. Endovascular treatment patients had a higher rate of recanalization at 24 h. Major radiological hemorrhages occurred more often in endovascular treatment patients (all with bridging therapy) than in patients without revascularization treatment (p = 0.026), with no differences in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage or mortality within seven days. Favorable clinical outcome at three months did not differ between groups (endovascular treatment versus intravenous thrombolysis p = 0.407; endovascular treatment versus no revascularization treatment p = 0.580). CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center cohort of cervical artery dissection-related acute ischemic stroke with intracranial occlusion, endovascular treatment with prior intravenous thrombolysis may increase the risk of major radiological but not symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Despite the lack of clear superiority in our cohort, endovascular treatment should currently not be withheld in these patients.

Conservative management of retinoblastoma: Challenging orthodoxy without compromising the state of metastatic grace. "Alive, with good vision and no comorbidity".

Retinoblastoma is lethal by metastasis if left untreated, so the primary goal of therapy is to preserve life, with ocular survival, visual preservation and quality of life as secondary aims. Historically, enucleation was the first successful therapeutic approach to decrease mortality, followed over 100 years ago by the first eye salvage attempts with radiotherapy. This led to the empiric delineation of a window for conservative management subject to a "state of metastatic grace" never to be violated. Over the last two decades, conservative management of retinoblastoma witnessed an impressive acceleration of improvements, culminating in two major paradigm shifts in therapeutic strategy. Firstly, the introduction of systemic chemotherapy and focal treatments in the late 1990s enabled radiotherapy to be progressively abandoned. Around 10 years later, the advent of chemotherapy in situ, with the capitalization of new routes of targeted drug delivery, namely intra-arterial, intravitreal and now intracameral injections, allowed significant increase in eye preservation rate, definitive eradication of radiotherapy and reduction of systemic chemotherapy. Here we intend to review the relevant knowledge susceptible to improve the conservative management of retinoblastoma in compliance with the "state of metastatic grace", with particular attention to (i) reviewing how new imaging modalities impact the frontiers of conservative management, (ii) dissecting retinoblastoma genesis, growth patterns, and intraocular routes of tumor propagation, (iii) assessing major therapeutic changes and trends, (iv) proposing a classification of relapsing retinoblastoma, (v) examining treatable/preventable disease-related or treatment-induced complications, and (vi) appraising new therapeutic targets and concepts, as well as liquid biopsy potentiality.

Embolization of cerebral arteriovenous shunts in infants weighing less than 5 kg.

OBJECTIVEEndovascular treatment in children, especially neonates, can be more challenging than analogous procedures in adults. This study aimed to describe the clinical and radiological findings, type and timing of endovascular treatment, and early outcomes in children who present with neurovascular malformations, who are treated with embolization, and who weigh less than 5 kg.METHODSThe authors carried out a retrospective review of all consecutively treated children weighing less than 5 kg with neurovascular arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) at a single institution over a 10-year period.RESULTSFifty-two patients were included in the study. Thirty-eight had a vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation, 3 a pial AVM, 6 a pial arteriovenous fistula, and 5 a dural sinus malformation. The endovascular treatment goals were control of cardiac failure or hydrocephalus in cases of nonhemorrhagic malformations or to prevent new bleeding in cases of previous hemorrhage. A hemorrhagic complication occurred in 12 procedures and an ischemic complication in 2. Both complication types were correlated with the age of the infant (age cutoff at 3 months) (p = of 0.015 and 0.049, respectively). No correlation was found with the weight of the infant or the duration of the procedure.CONCLUSIONSThe embolization of AVMs in these patients prevented adverse cardiac effects, hydrovenous disorders, and rebleeding. The risk of major cerebral complications seems mainly correlated with age, with a threshold at 3 months. A multidisciplinary team involved in the treatment of these children may help to improve treatment success and management.

Conservative treatment of diffuse infiltrating retinoblastoma: optical coherence tomography-assisted diagnosis and follow-up in three consecutive cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To report conservative therapy in diffuse infiltrating retinoblastoma (DIR) and describe specific optic coherence tomography (OCT) features of the tumour. METHODS: Retrospective review of all DIR cases treated conservatively between 1998 and 2012. RESULTS: Three patients (three eyes) were included, cases 1 and 3 with previous enucleation of the contralateral eye and case 2 with unilateral retinoblastoma referred after prior pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil. Mean age at diagnosis was 7 years (range 14 months-14 years). Globe and vision preservation (Snellen visual acuity of 12.5/10) was achieved in case 3 with a recurrence-free follow-up of 33 months after first-line thermotherapy followed by salvage intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) plus focal treatments. Cases 1 and 2 were enucleated for progressive disease, case 1 after first-line intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) consolidated by focal therapies and salvage treatments given over 8 years of partial remission and case 2 after IAC, brachytherapy and intracameral chemotherapy. Neither showed any high-risk histopathological features, and no adjuvant chemotherapy was necessary. Both patients are alive without metastasis (mean follow-up of >10 years). Pathognomonic features of the tumour were revealed by OCT in all cases, showing infiltration of the ganglion cell layer and horizontal growth over the inner plexiform layer. Complete restoration of the retinal microanatomy was documented after retraction of the tumour following IVC in case 2 and IAC in case 3. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of successful conservative management in DIR. OCT enabled diagnosis, delimitation of the tumour margins and monitoring of the treatment response in this context.