Support and guide performance comparison of balloon guide catheters.

Background: Several types of balloon guide catheters (BGCs) are used in mechanical thrombus retrieval. However, direct comparisons of their supporting and guiding performance have not been reported. We compared the supporting and guiding performance of the Branchor, Flowgate, and Optimo BGCs using a type 3 aorta artificial vascular model. Methods: An inner catheter was pushed into the artificial vascular model using a linear actuator for the supporting performance evaluation. A previously placed BGC in the internal carotid artery was then intentionally caused to slip. Supporting performance was evaluated by measuring the distance the BGC slipped and generated maximum resistance during Inner catheter insertion. For the guiding performance experiment, a linear actuator was used to guide the BGC into the internal carotid artery of the artificial vessel model. The guiding performance was evaluated by measuring the distance reached by the BGC, maximum resistance generated during insertion of the guiding catheter, and distance the inner catheter slipped. Each experiment was replicated 5 times. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in the results of the five supporting performance experiments. However, the results of the first and second experiments suggested that the Optimo offers better supporting performance. In the guiding performance experiment, significant differences were observed, suggesting that the Branchor and Flowgate have superior guiding performance in comparison with the Optimo. Conclusion: The Optimo offered superior supporting performance, while the Branchor and Flowgate showed better guiding performance than the Optimo.

Endovascular Treatment for Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms.

Previously, anterior communicating artery aneurysms were considered unsuitable for endovascular treatment. In recent years, however, endovascular treatment has been increasingly performed due to the fact that it is less likely to cause high dysfunction compared to surgery and the treatment has been improved. The International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial reported anterior communicating artery aneurysms comprise 45.4% of cerebral aneurysms on which both endovascular treatment and surgery are suitable. The use of the endovascular treatment for anterior communicating artery aneurysms is expected to increase in the future. In this paper, we present cases from our institution based on the characteristics of anterior and distal communicating artery aneurysms, treatment strategies, and treatment indications.

Understanding of Pathophysiology and Optimal Treatment for Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion beyond 24 h from Onset of Stroke.

We report three cases in which endovascular treatment (EVT) was performed for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) beyond 24 h from the onset of stroke. Case 1 experienced left hemispatial neglect and gait disorder due to right internal cerebral artery (ICA) occlusion and underlying atherosclerosis. After percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), revascularization with mild stenosis was achieved. Case 2 complained of reduced activity, motor aphasia, and right-sided hemiparesis due to left middle cerebral artery occlusion. After thrombectomy using a retrieval stent, revascularization with M1 stenosis and distal perfusion delay was observed, which improved after PTA. Case 3 arrived at our hospital 30 h after the onset of dysarthria and gait disturbance due to left ICA occlusion. Since the symptoms were mild, medical treatment was started; however, the patient's symptoms deteriorated 6 h later, and EVT was required. After thrombectomy using a retrieval stent, revascularization was achieved. LVO pathophysiology beyond 24 h of stroke onset varies and may require multimodal treatment. Preserving the pyramidal tract may lead to favorable outcomes, even in cases of anterior circulation LVO. EVT may be effective for anterior circulation LVO because, in some patients, infarct volume continues to increase >24 h after stroke onset.

Effectiveness of Retrograde Angiography via the Contralateral Carotid Artery in Mechanical Thrombectomy for Carotid Non-T Occlusion by Dual Puncture Technique.

Objective: We report the effectiveness of retrograde angiography via the contralateral carotid angiography using a dual puncture technique in mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for non-T occlusion in patients with acute internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion not involving the ICA terminus. Case Presentation: In the dual puncture technique, arterial puncture is performed at two sites: a balloon guiding catheter (BGC) is navigated to the ICA on the affected side and another catheter is navigated to the unaffected side. Thrombus retrieval is performed by manual aspiration through the BGC and MT using a stent retriever and/or aspiration device. Reperfusion is confirmed by retrograde angiography via the carotid artery on the unaffected side, with manual aspiration through the BGC on the affected side. Throughout the procedure, the BGC blocks the blood flow in the ICA on the affected side until reperfusion is confirmed. No distal embolization was occurred in our three patients treated using this technique. Conclusion: Application of the dual puncture technique on MT is recommended for non-T occlusion to prevent distal embolization.

Experimental Safety Evaluation of Inflated Assisting Balloons for Endovascular Surgery.

Objective: The balloon-assisted technique is one of the methods used for cerebral aneurysm embolization. There are several applications of assisting balloons such as remodeling the neck of cerebral aneurysms, protecting blood vessel branches, and stabilizing the microcatheter. In this study, we measured the pressure inside inflated assisting balloons to assess safety or procedure. Methods: A T-junction silicone model was used. The pressure inside the balloon inflated to the set herniation levels in the T-junction model was measured using a fiber pressure sensor. We compared the pressure and difference between each assisting balloon. Results: The pressure required for inflating the balloon to the set herniation level in the T-junction model varied depending on the type of assisting balloon. The results suggest that differences in pressure among inflated balloons are likely attributable to differences in the materials used in the lumens of the balloons. Conclusion: The pressure inside various inflated assisting balloons was measured for comparison and differences were found. This experiment contributes to the safety of the balloon-assisted technique.

Treatment of Recurrent Aneurysm of the Internal Carotid Artery-poster Communicating Artery Using the Marathon Microcatheter: A Case Report.

Objective: We report the case of an aneurysm of the recurrent internal carotid artery (ICA)-posterior communicating artery (PCoA) treated using a liquid embolic delivery microcatheter (MC; Marathon). Case Presentation: A 66-year-old female previously presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage, which had been treated using coil embolization for a ruptured ICA-PCoA aneurysm. She was referred to our hospital because the aneurysm recurred 13 years after treatment. Angiography revealed a de novo lobulated aneurysm at the ICA-PCoA bifurcation with a relatively thickened PCoA branching from the neck of the aneurysm. We performed coil embolization after stent placement with the Neuroform Atlas in the range of the ICA terminus and the PCoA. However, the coils were unequally distributed and it was necessary to navigate the MC to the aneurysm within the stent through the PCoA. We successfully approached the aneurysm using the Marathon. We additionally inserted six ED coils into the aneurysm and achieved favorable embolization. Conclusion: The Marathon is useful for passage of a stent deployed in a small-caliber artery.

[Surgical Results of Lumbar Degenerative Disease with Foot Drop].

Drop foot is associated with various diseases, such as peripheral nerve disease, lumbar degenerative disease, metabolic disease, and endocrine disease. Among lumbar degenerative diseases, lumbar disc herniation and lumbar canal stenosis are most commonly reported. We report the surgical outcomes of patients with drop foot caused by lumbar degenerative diseases. Between 2008 and 2018, we encountered 24 cases of drop foot in patients who underwent surgery of the lumbar lesion. The mean age was 69.5 years(49-88 years). Fourteen patients were male and ten were female. The mean time interval between the onset of drop foot and surgery was 51.5 days(from 7 days to 1 year). Drop foot, as a clinically significant muscle weakness, was defined at levels of manual muscle test(MMT)3 or lower. Responsible lesions for drop foot were canal stenosis at L4/5 in 8 cases, disc herniation at L4/5 in 10 cases, disc herniation at L5/S1 in 5 cases, and far-out syndrome in 1. One case involved drop foot bilaterally. Muscle weakness improved by surgery at levels of MMT 4 or greater in 16 cases(66.7%). Six cases of complete paresis or tibialis anterior muscle atrophy preoperatively resulted in no improvement;however, neuralgia was relieved in all. Twelve of 15 cases(80%)of lumbar disc herniation and 4 of 10 cases(40%)of lumbar canal stenosis resulted in improvement. Between disc herniation and canal stenosis, the surgical success rate was not statistically different. Age and the time interval between the onset and surgery were also not significant factors of the outcome. Surgical intervention seems to be beneficial even in cases of severe muscle weakness since pain relief can be expected, which leads to improvement in gait.

[Pseudoaneurysm of Neck External Carotid Artery Related to Chiropractic Manipulation].

A 55-year-old man presented with progressive pain and expanding swelling in his right neck. He had no history of trauma or infectious disease. The patient had undergone chiropractic manipulations once in a month and the last manipulation was done one day before the admission to our hospital. On examination by laryngeal endoscopy, a swelling was found on the posterior wall of the pharynx on the right side. The right piriform fossa was invisible. CT revealed hematoma in the posterior wall of the right oropharynx compressing the airway tract. Aneurysm-like enhanced lesion was also seen near the right common carotid artery. Ultrasound imaging revealed a fistula of approximately 1.2 mm at the posterior wall of the external carotid artery and inflow image of blood to the aneurysm of a diameter of approximately 12 mm. No dissection or stenosis of the artery was found. Jet inflow of blood into the aneurysm was confirmed by angiography. T1-weighted MR imaging revealed presence of hematoma on the posterior wall of the pharynx and the aneurysm was recognized by gadolinium-enhancement. We performed emergency surgery to remove the aneurysm while preserving the patency of the external carotid artery. The pin-hole fistula was sutured and the wall of the aneurysm was removed. Histopathological assessment of the rissue revealed pseudoaneurysm. The patient was discharged after 12 days without deficit. Progressively growing aneurysm of the external carotid artery is caused by various factors and early intervention is recommended. Although, currently, intravascular surgery is commonly indicated, direct surgery is also feasible and has advantages with regard to pathological diagnosis and complete repair of the parent artery.

[Implementation of Penumbra-assisted Half-Stent Thrombectomy for Patients with Acute M2 Occlusion:Results of Initial Experiences].

The benefits of mechanical thrombectomy(MT)for acute M2 occlusion have remained unclear because of unavoidable device-related complications due to vascular morphological characteristics. We developed a Penumbra-assisted half-stent thrombectomy for achieving secure retrieval of thrombus with minimal damage to the small-caliber vessel. In total, 6 patients were treated with MT for acute M2 occlusion using this technique between November 2016 and May 2017, including 3 men and 3 women, mean age 74.8(51-98)years. The mean baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 17.5(6-32), and Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score-Diffusion-Weighted Imaging was 7.5(6-9). After navigation of the microcatheter through the thrombus in M2 supported by a Penumbra 4MAX as a distal access catheter, the stent retriever(SR)was partially deployed to cover the entire thrombus. The 4MAX was then advanced towards the caudal end of the thrombus, and the SR was pulled back into the 4MAX with simultaneous aspiration of the 4MAX. We used the Trevo XP3 in 5 patients and Revive SE in 1 patient. The mean procedure time from groin puncture to recanalization was 60(54-66)min. Successful recanalization(Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2b or 3)was achieved in 5(83%)patients. There were no cases of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Good outcome(modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 2)at 3 months was achieved in 3(50%)patients. Penumbra-assisted half-stent thrombectomy appears to be an effective alternative strategy in MT for acute M2 occlusion.

[Two Cases of Bilateral Orbital Metastases of Breast Cancer].

Two cases of breast cancer with bilateral orbital metastases associated with intracranial metastases are presented. Case 1:A 61-year-old woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years earlier presented with rapid deterioration of visual acuity, eye pain, and limitation of left-sided extraocular motility. Magnetic resonance(MR)images showed an enhanced lesion in the left orbital apex, ethmoid sinus, and right middle fossa. The first gamma knife radiotherapy(35 Gy, 5 Fr)was performed successfully, but was followed by recurrence 18 months later in the right intraorbital, where newly formed iso-intensity masses in the extraconal compartment were found. The second gamma knife radiosurgery was performed for three masses(20 Gy). Case 2:A 35-year-old woman with breast cancer who was diagnosed 22 months earlier was treated for meningeal carcinomatosis by whole-brain radiation(30 Gy, 10 Fr)and intrathecal chemotherapy. Eight months later, swelling in both eyelids and limitation of extraocular motility developed rapidly. MR imaging revealed an infiltrating lesion in the cone with heterogenous signal that was encasing, but not infiltrating the optic nerves. The extraconal lesion extended into the soft tissue of the lower eye lid. She expired one week after diagnosis. With the increasing number of long-term survivors with breast cancer, intraorbital metastases may be found during the course of treatment for intracranial lesions. Understanding the unique clinical presentation and characteristic MR findings of this rare entity are emphasized.

Duplex-assisted carotid artery stenting without administration of contrast medium for patients with chronic kidney disease or allergic reaction.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of duplex-assisted carotid artery stenting (CAS) without administration of contrast medium for the prevention of adverse reactions. METHODS: Fifteen patients (9 % of all CASs) with severe carotid stenosis (≥70 %) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (stage ≥3) or allergy to contrast medium underwent duplex-assisted CAS without administration of contrast medium over 4 years. The procedural success rate and perioperative complication rates were compared between the duplex-assisted CAS (n = 15) and conventional CAS (n = 153) groups. RESULTS: The technical success rate was 100 % in both groups. Combined stroke or death rates during the post-procedural period did not differ significantly between the duplex-assisted CAS group (0/15, 0 %) and conventional CAS group (4/153, 2.6 %). None of the 14 patients with CKD in the duplex-assisted CAS group experienced further deterioration of renal function. The mean surface radiation dose of participants in the duplex-assisted CAS group (n = 13, 312 ± 131 mGy) was significantly lower than that of the conventional CAS group (n = 31, 1036 ± 571 mGy) (p < 0.001). The mean duration of CAS procedure was not significantly different between the duplex-assisted CAS group (156 ± 39.7 min) and the conventional CAS group (156 ± 37.4 min). CONCLUSION: Duplex-assisted CAS without administration of contrast medium could be an alternative option in selected patients deemed to be at high risk for renal failure from nephrotoxic contrast medium or who have an allergy to contrast medium.

A narrow microbeam is more effective for tumor growth suppression than a wide microbeam: an in vivo study using implanted human glioma cells.

The tumoricidal mechanisms of microbeam radiation therapy, and the more recently proposed minibeam radiation therapy, for the treatment of brain tumors are as yet unclear. Moreover, from among the various parameters of beam geometry the impact of changing the beam width is unknown. In this study, suppression of tumor growth in human glioma cells implanted in mice was evaluated experimentally using microbeams of two different widths: a conventional narrow beam (20 µm width, 100 µm center-to-center distance) and a wide beam (100 µm width, 500 µm center-to-center distance). The tumor growth ratio was compared and acute cell death was studied histologically. With cross-planar irradiation, tumor growth was significantly suppressed between days 4 and 28 after 20 µm microbeam irradiation, whereas tumor growth was suppressed, and not significantly so, only between days 4 and 18 after 100 µm microbeam irradiation. Immunohistochemistry using TUNEL staining showed no increase in TUNEL-positive cells with either microbeam at 24 and 72 h post-irradiation. The 20 µm microbeam was found to be more tumoricidal than the 100 µm microbeam, and the effect was not related to apoptotic cell death. The underlying mechanism may be functional tissue deterioration rather than direct cellular damage in the beam path.

[Multidisciplinary treatment for severe syndromic craniosynostosis].

We describe the treatment of patients having syndromic craniosynostosis with severe craniofacial abnormality. One patient had Cruzon's syndrome, one had Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome, and four had Pfeiffers syndrome. Anterior cranial deformity in all patients was treated using fronto-orbital advancement (FOA) by gradual distraction. Initially, the frontal and supraorbital bones were removed and remodeled. Next, the frontal bones were fixed loosely to the supraorbital bones with absorbable threads. Then, the supraorbital and temporal bones were connected using distraction devices on both sides. The temporal bones were thereafter reinforced with titanium plates. Distraction was started one week postoperation, and the mean amount of elongation was 28.9 mm. Distraction devices were removed one to five months after the operation. One case required FOA by the traditional method ten months after the initial operation. Local infection was observed in three cases, but there were no majors complications. Posterior cranial remodelings were performed in five cases, with one requiring a second operation. We chose the appropriate procedure according to the degree of cranial deformity and operative findings. We performed decompression of the foramen magnum in five cases and laminectomy of the atlas in two cases. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus and tracheotomy for airway obstruction were performed in all cases. Cranial remodeling for treating severe craniofacial abnormality requires careful inspection of abnormalities, proper timing, close attention to the procedure and adequate perioperative care. Multidisciplinary therapy is essential for treating severe syndromic craniosynostosis due to systematic osseocartilaginous aplasia.

A case of cerebellar capillary hemangioma with multiple cysts.

Intracranial capillary hemangiomas are very rare, though several spinal capillary hemangiomas have recently been reported. We report here a case of intracranial capillary hemangioma with multiple cysts and review the current literature of similar cases. A 4-month-old girl was referred to our hospital for treatment of hydrocephalus and a cerebellar mass lesion. She presented with hemangiomas distributed widely over the body, as well as disseminated hemangiomas in the pleura, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and vagina. Pathological examination of the specimen from the vagina confirmed the diagnosis of a capillary hemangioma made at another hospital. Radiological examination of the brain revealed a cystic mass lesion in the left cerebellar hemisphere with subsequent obstructive hydrocephalus. The cysts extended upward into the bilateral ventricle. Following neuroendoscopic fenestration of the cysts, resection of the left cerebellar mass was performed. Histological examination of the lesion demonstrated similarly sized capillaries, and the pathological diagnosis was confirmed as capillary hemangioma. There was no recurrence postoperatively. Our patient was treated successfully by surgical resection and neuroendoscopic procedures. Surgical intervention may therefore be indicated in intracranial capillary hemangiomas.

[A case of lymphocytic hypophysitis successfully treated with steroid pulse therapy].

Lymphocytic hypophysitis is an autoimmune disorder of the pituitary gland. We report a case of lymphocytic hypophysitis managed by high dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy and review the literature. A 61-year-old woman presented with severe headache. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a contrast enhancing pituitary mass. The patient underwent endonasal-transsphenoidal surgery of the pituitary lesion under the diagnosis of a non-secreting pituitary adenoma. Intraoperative histological findings suggested an inflammatory lesion and we performed subtotal resection of the mass. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lymphocytic hypophysitis. Postoperatively, she received methylprednisolone pulse therapy and her severe headache resolved. This case report suggests that methylprednisolone pulse therapy may improve the clinical symptoms of lymphocytic hypophysitis.