Coiling ruptured aneurysms arising from the posterior genu of the cavernous internal carotid artery: A report of two cases.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Exceptionally, aneurysms from the posterior genu of the cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) can rupture, resulting in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We reported such a case and provided another case with an unruptured aneurysm as a control to confirm the rarity of the ruptured aneurysm from the posterior genu of the cavernous ICA. CASE PRESENTATION: Case 1: This was a 46-year-old female with SAH. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) confirmed that an aneurysm from the posterior genu of the right cavernous ICA had expanded into the intradural space and ruptured; the aneurysm was coiled completely. Postoperatively, she died from cerebral ischemia due to vasospasm. Case 2: This was a 59-year-old female with SAH. CTA and DSA revealed six aneurysms, including two mirror-like aneurysms from the bilateral anterior communicating artery (AcomA), two tandem aneurysms from the posterior genu of the left cavernous ICA, and two aneurysms from the bilateral anterior cavernous ICAs. After coiling the two tandem aneurysms from the posterior genu of the left cavernous ICA, the bilateral AcomA aneurysms were clipped, and rupture of the right AcomA aneurysm was confirmed. Follow-up CTA showed complete clipping of the bilateral AcomA aneurysms. Her Glasgow Outcome Scale score was 5. Endovascular treatment for residual aneurysms is planned for the future. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: As shown in these two cases, the aneurysm from the posterior genu of the cavernous ICA can rupture, resulting in SAH; however, the rupture of other aneurysms must be excluded. CONCLUSION: Once a ruptured aneurysm from the posterior genu of the cavernous ICA was confirmed, EVT was considered an alternative treatment.

Panhypopituitarism caused by an unruptured giant cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm compressing the pituitary gland treated with a flow-diverting stent: A case report.

Background: Internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms extending into the intrasellar region that mimics pituitary tumors and leads to pituitary dysfunction are relatively rare. The treatment for aneurysms includes surgery and endovascular procedures. However, functional recovery of the pituitary gland is difficult. Case Description: We report a case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with severe headaches and generalized malaise. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a giant unruptured cavernous ICA aneurysm that pushed the pituitary stalk contralaterally. A baseline endocrinological examination suggested panhypopituitarism. Hypopituitarism was treated with hormone replacement therapy, which improved the patient's symptoms of headaches and malaise after 4 days. The aneurysm was treated using a pipeline flow-diverting stent. Two years later, the aneurysm had reduced to half of its maximum diameter, and the pituitary stalk was visible on MRI. Hormone loading tests 1 week postoperatively showed almost no response. At postoperative 6 months, there was a trend toward improvement. Conclusion: Flow-diverting stent deployment is useful for large or giant carotid artery aneurysms with pituitary gland compression.

Simplified classification of cavernous internal carotid artery tortuosity: a predictor of procedural complexity and clinical outcomes in mechanical thrombectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Thromboaspiration catheters are increasingly used for the endovascular treatment of large vessel stroke (LVS), while tortuous vascular anatomy still remains one major challenge in mechanical thrombectomy. Prompt assessing and understanding cavernous internal carotid artery (cICA) tortuosity may help to predict procedural complexities of mechanical thrombectomy and thus improve the clinical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on a cohort of LVS patients with thromboaspiration catheter. Simplified classification of cICA tortuosity was applied by measurement of the angle of the posterior genus (P) and the height from the peak of the posterior genu to the trough of the anterior genu (D). Statistical analyses were performed to analyze differences among the obtained types of cICA tortuosity regarding procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients with LVS proximal to the internal ICA terminus and middle cerebral artery (MCA) were included in this study, and three types of cICA tortuosity were defined by the simplified classification. The index, such as patients ages and hypertension, procedural fluoroscopy time, the degree of cICA tortuosity, first-pass success, final reperfusion, and 90-day mortality showed significant differences among the three types (P < 0.05), while 90-day good outcome (mRS 0-2) only presented significant difference between Type I and Type III (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated that the grading of cICA tortuosity is highly correlated with procedural complexity and clinical outcome in mechanical thrombectomy. The proposed classification system may be helpful in pre-procedure prognostication complexity and clinical outcomes.Abbreviations:LVS: large vessel stroke; cICA: cavernous internal carotid artery; mRS: modified Rankin Scale; AIS: acute ischemic stroke; MCA: middle cerebral artery; M1: first division of middle cerebral artery; M2: second division of middle cerebral artery; M3: third division of middle cerebral artery; TICI: Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction; TICI 2b: two-thirds of occluded territory reperfusion; DSA: digital subtraction angiography; FT: fluoroscopy time.

Symptomatic Cavernous Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Complicated by Simultaneous Rapid Growth of the Intra-aneurysmal and Parent Artery Thromboses.

Cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm complicated by simultaneous and spontaneous formation of thromboses in the aneurysm and the parent artery is a rare clinical condition. Although the majority of patients have good outcomes, some patients experience severe ischemic stroke. Here, we report a case of symptomatic large cavernous ICA aneurysm complicated by rapid growth of an intra-aneurysmal thrombosis with simultaneous parent artery thrombosis. A 68-year-old female presented with sudden-onset diplopia, right ptosis, right conjunctival hyperemia, and paresthesia of the right face. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and digital subtract angiography (DSA) revealed the presence of a large partially thrombosed aneurysm in the cavernous portion of the right ICA. We planned endovascular embolization using a flow-diverting (FD) stent. Dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel was started 2 weeks prior to treatment. Although the neurological state was stable, DSA conducted on the day of the endovascular treatment showed rapid growth of an intra-aneurysmal thrombosis and de novo thrombosis in the parent artery. Direct aspiration was performed via a distal support catheter with proximal blood flow arrest using a balloon-guide catheter, and the FD stent was successfully deployed. The patient's symptoms improved postoperatively and DSA obtained 12 months after the procedure confirmed complete occlusion of the aneurysm. Although the exact mechanism of simultaneous thrombosis formation of the aneurysm and its parent artery remains unclear, it is important to recognize that rapid growth of the thrombosis increases the risk of ischemic stroke.

High flow bypass for right giant cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm with fibromuscular dysplasia of cervical internal carotid artery: microsurgical 2-D video.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that intracranial aneurysms can be associated to fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). Nevertheless, it is not clear the best treatment strategy when there is an association of giant symptomatic cavernous carotid aneurysm with extensive cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) FMD. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present the case of 63 year-old right-handed female with hypothyroidism, 1 month history of right-sided pulsatile headache and visual disturbances with feeling of fullness sensation and blurry vision. Her neurological exam showed partial right oculomotor nerve palsy with mild ptosis, asymmetric pupils (right 5 mm and left 3mm, both reactive), and mild exotropia, normal visual acuity. Computed tomography angiogram and conventional angiogram showed 2.5 × 2.6 × 2.6 cm non-ruptured aneurysm arising from cavernous segment of the right ICA. She had right hypoplastic posterior communicant artery, and collateral flow through anterior communicant artery during balloon test occlusion and the presence of right cervical ICA FMD. The patient was started on aspirin. After lengthy discussion of treatment options in our neurovascular department, between observations, endovascular treatment with flow diverter device, or high flow bypass, recommendation was to perform high flow bypass and patient consented for the procedure. We performed right-sided pterional trans-sylvian microsurgical approach and right neck dissection at common carotid bifurcation under electrophysiology monitoring (somatosensory evoked potentials and electroencephalography); while vascular surgery department assisted with the radial artery graft harvesting. The radial artery graft was passed through preauricular tunnel, cranially was anastomosed at superior trunk of middle cerebral artery, and caudally at external carotid artery (Video). Intraoperative angiogram showed adequate bypass patency and lack of flow within aneurysm. The patient was extubated postoperatively and discharged home with aspirin in postoperative day 5. Improvement on oculomotor deficit was complete 3 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSION: Nowadays, endovascular therapy can manage small to large cavernous ICA aneurysms even if associated to FMD, although giant symptomatic cavernous carotid aneurysms impose a different challenge. Here, we present the management for the association of symptomatic giant cavernous ICA aneurysm and cervical ICA FMD with high flow bypass. We consider important to keep the skills in the cerebrovascular neurosurgeon armamentarium for the safe management of these lesions.

Endovascular management of a carotid aneurysm into the sphenoid sinus presenting with epistaxis.

Non-traumatic cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms are rare, and favour the occurrence of massive recurrent epistaxis, which is associated with a high mortality rate. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman presenting a ruptured ICA aneurysm extending into the sphenoid sinus, revealed by epistaxis. Selective coil embolization of the aneurysm was performed. Flow-diverter stents were deployed in order to utterly exclude the aneurysm and prevent revascularization. Anti-platelet treatment was provided to lower the risk of in-stent thrombosis. A left frontal hematoma associated with a subarachnoid haemorrhage occurred at day 2. Outcome was favourable with no neurological sequelae, and no clinical recurrence of epistaxis occurred. A 4 months follow-up digital subtraction angiography showed a complete exclusion of the aneurysm. In addition, a magnetic resonance cerebral angiography at 16 months showed stable results. Thus, this two-stage endovascular procedure has proven its effectiveness in preventing epistaxis recurrence while preserving the ICA patency.