Mobile endovascular therapy for acute treatment of ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm in multiple hospitals.

BACKGROUND: The patients with ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (rVADA) should be treated as early as possible because VADA carries extremely high risk of rebleeding in the acute phase. We have established a mobile endovascular strategy for the patients with rVADA between our flagship center and its affiliated local hospitals. We introduced and reviewed our mobile endovascular therapy in this study. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 98 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular surgery for rVADA from 2000 to 2018 at our institution or five affiliated hospitals. When each patient was initially transported to the local affiliated hospitals, neuroendovascular surgeons traveled directly to the affiliated hospital from the flagship center in order to treat the patient there. Clinical outcomes using modified Rankin Scale at 6 months after treatment, radiological results, and procedure-related complications were reviewed to justify our mobile endovascular strategy. RESULTS: All aneurysms were cured successfully by internal trapping. Favorable outcome was achieved in 61 patients (62.2%) even though 53 patients (54.1%) had presented with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage. Overall mortality rate, treatment-related mortality rate, and treatment related complication rate were 18.4% (18/98), 0%, and 16% (16/98), respectively. There were no differences in clinical and radiological outcomes between the patients treated in the flagship center and those who treated in the affiliated hospitals. Treatment in the affiliated hospital was not a predictive factor of unfavorable outcome in our multivariate analysis, and elderly age (≥ 60) was negatively associated with favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results prove the efficacy and safety of mobile endovascular therapy for the treatment of rVADA in the ultra-acute stage. Mobile endovascular therapy may work well in the acute treatment of rVADAs in the certain circumstance.

Trends in Incidence of Intracranial and Spinal Arteriovenous Shunts: Hospital-Based Surveillance in Okayama, Japan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To date, the incidence of intracranial and spinal arteriovenous shunts has not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to clarify recent trends in the rates of intracranial and spinal arteriovenous shunts in Japan. METHODS: We conducted multicenter hospital-based surveillance at 8 core hospitals in Okayama Prefecture between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2019. Patients who lived in Okayama and were diagnosed with cerebral arteriovenous malformations, dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs), or spinal arteriovenous shunts (SAVSs) were enrolled. The incidence and temporal trends of each disease were calculated. RESULTS: Among a total of 393 cranial and spinal arteriovenous shunts, 201 (51.1%) cases of DAVF, 155 (39.4%) cases of cerebral arteriovenous malformation, and 34 (8.7%) cases of SAVS were identified. The crude incidence rates between 2009 and 2019 were 2.040 per 100 000 person-years for all arteriovenous shunts, 0.805 for cerebral arteriovenous malformation, 1.044 for DAVF, and 0.177 for SAVS. The incidence of all types tended to increase over the decade, with a notable increase in incidence starting in 2012. Even after adjusting for population aging, the incidence of nonaggressive DAVF increased 6.0-fold while that of SAVS increased 4.4-fold from 2010 to 2018. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to previous studies, we found that the incidence of DAVF is higher than that of cerebral arteriovenous malformation. Even after adjusting for population aging, all of the disease types tended to increase in incidence over the last decade, with an especially prominent increase in SAVSs and nonaggressive DAVFs. Various factors including population aging may affect an increase in DAVF and SAVS.

Utility of real-time image fusion technology in ultrasonography-guided fiducial marker implantation for stereotactic body radiation therapy for liver tumors.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography (US) is useful when implanting fiducial markers in the liver. However, the implant position is sometimes lost. Recently, real-time image fusion technology (Volume Navigation [V-navi]; GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA) has been introduced as a technique for using images from different modalities, and its utility for fiducial marker implantation has been hypothesized. PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of US-guided fiducial marker implantation in the liver using V-navi compared to conventional US. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 35 patients who underwent fiducial marker implantation for stereotactic body radiation therapy of liver tumors in 2013-2018. To avoid artifacts obscuring the tumor, the target point of implantation was set 10 mm cranial or caudal to the tumor. Marker implantation was then performed using US alone (US group, n = 24) or V-navi with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (V-navi group, n = 11). Postprocedural CT was evaluated to determine technical success, distances between marker and either tumor surface or target point, and whether marker-induced artifacts obscured the tumor. Complications were also evaluated. Results were compared between groups. RESULTS: Technical success was obtained in 33 patients. Distance between the tumor and marker showed no significant difference between groups. Distance between target point and marker was shorter in the V-navi group (P = 0.0093). Tumor-obscuring artifacts were seen in 12 patients (V-navi group, n = 1; US group, n = 11; P = 0.055). The only complication was minor bleeding in the US group (n = 1). CONCLUSION: V-navi appears useful for US-guided fiducial marker implantation in the liver compared with conventional US.

4-Hydroxyl-2-Nonenal Localized Expression Pattern in Retrieved Clots is Associated with Large Artery Atherosclerosis in Stroke Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between stroke etiology and clot pathology remains controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed histological analysis of clots retrieved from 52 acute ischemic stroke patients using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry (CD42b and oxidative/hypoxic stress markers). The correlations between clot composition and the stroke etiological group (i.e., cardioembolic, cryptogenic, or large artery atherosclerosis) were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 52 clots analyzed, there were no significant differences in histopathologic composition (e.g., white blood cells, red blood cells, fibrin, and platelets) between the 3 etiological groups (P = .92). By contrast, all large artery atherosclerosis clots showed a localized pattern with the oxidative stress marker 4-hydroxyl-2-nonenal (P < .01). From all 52 clots, 4-hydroxyl-2-nonenal expression patterns were localized in 28.8% of clots, diffuse in 57.7% of clots, and no signal in 13.5% of clots. CONCLUSIONS: A localized pattern of 4-hydroxyl-2-nonenal staining may be a novel and effective marker for large artery atherosclerosis (sensitivity 100%, specificity 82%).

A patient develops transient unique cerebral and cerebellar lesions after unruptured aneurysm coiling.

BACKGROUND: We describe a case of a very unusual complication following a coiling procedure in which the patient developed transient unique cerebral and cerebellar lesions. Lesions were examined not only by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but also by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS). CASE PRESENTATION: A 33-year-old woman presented an incidental 3.7 × 3.3-mm unruptured cerebral aneurysm (CAn) in her basilar artery, which was successfully coiled with balloon assistance. A follow-up brain MRI at 1 and 2 months showed a gradual increase in several white matter hyperintense lesions in the left cerebellar, bilateral occipitotemporal and left parietoccipital lobe during fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). These were the only lesions associated with perfused CAn. However, the patient did not show any additional symptoms such as visual disturbance throughout the entire course. (11)C-methionine-PET (MET-PET) showed an obvious increase in methionine uptake in the lesion corresponding to enhanced areas with gadolinium-enhanced MRI. MRS showed a decrease in the N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/cr) ratio and a slight elevation of the choline/creatine (cho/cr) ratio and a lactate peak in the lesion. A follow-up MRI at 6 and 12 months showed a gradual decrease in the initial hyperintense lesions in FLAIR without any treatment. CONCLUSION: We present a case of an unusual complication after a coiling procedure. Although it is difficult to identify this etiology without a pathological examination, it is importance to increase awareness of such a potential complication arising from coiling procedures, because interventional procedures have become the first choice of treatment for cerebrovascular diseases in many countries.

[Multiple brain abscesses in the territory of the vertebral-basilar artery resulting from an infected aortic arch graft].

A 62-year-old man with high fever and in a state of disorientation was transferred to our hospital. One year before this transfer, he had undergone total arch replacement surgery for thoracic aortic dissection. On admission to our hospital, head MRI revealed multiple brain abscesses in the territory of the vertebral-basilar artery, and chest CT showed gas around the aortic graft, in particular, at the origin of the left subclavian artery. We diagnosed him with brain abscesses in the left vertebral-basilar artery resulting from an infected aortic graft. We immediately began administration of intravenous antibiotics. Although his blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were negative, fortunately, the brain abscesses and ectopic gas disappeared. Since reports of only antibiotic use for treating brain abscesses due to aortic graft infection are rare, the appropriate duration of antibiotic administration has not been established yet. Therefore, careful observation is required in this case.

Nationwide survey of the nature and risk factors of complications in embolization of meningiomas and other intracranial tumors: Japanese Registry of NeuroEndovascular Therapy 2 (JR-NET2).

INTRODUCTION: Embolization of intracranial tumor is widely performed in Japan, mainly before neurosurgical resection. A retrospective, multicenter, observational study in Japan was conducted to clarify the nature, frequency, and risk factors of complications in intracranial tumor embolization. METHODS: Patients were derived from the Japanese Registry of NeuroEndovascular Therapy 2 (JR-NET2). A total of 20,854 patients were enrolled in JR-NET2, of which 1,018 patients (4.88 %) with intracranial tumors underwent embolization. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 0-2 (independency) at 30 days. The secondary end point was the occurrence of complications related to the procedures. The risk factors of the occurrence of complications were studied. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with mRS scores ≤2 at 30 days after procedure was 91.3 %. Complications occurred in 15 of the 1,012 patients (1.48 %). Multivariate analysis showed that embolization for tumors other than meningioma (OR, 4.626; 95 % CI, 1.347-14.59; p = 0.0105) was significantly associated with the development of complications. CONCLUSION: The frequency of complications after intracranial tumor embolization was relatively low in this large Japanese cohort. Embolization for tumors other than meningioma was the only significant risk factor for the occurrence of complications.

Long-term outcomes in adult patients with ischemic-type moyamoya disease involving posterior circulation.

BACKGROUND: The object of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes in adult patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) with posterior circulation involvement (PCi) treated through surgical revascularization with those in adult patients without PCi. METHODS: The records of 32 consecutive adult patients with ischemic-type MMD who were treated with revascularization were reviewed. Twelve of these patients (38 %) had PCi at initial onset. Clinical characteristics of the patients with PCi were compared to those without PCi. Neurological outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) in the preoperative and postoperative follow-up periods. A five-year Kaplan-Meier stroke risk was calculated. RESULTS: The frequency of presenting with infarction was significantly higher among patients with PCi than among those without PCi (p = 0.006). mRS scores in the preoperative period were significantly higher in patients with PCi than in patients without PCi (p = 0.0004). There were no significant differences in mRS scores between the preoperative and postoperative follow-up period in patients with PCi (p = 0.3), nor were there any between the preoperative and postoperative follow-up periods in patients without PCi (p = 0.2). The five-year Kaplan-Meier risk of surgical morbidity and ipsilateral stroke was 14.3 % in surgically treated hemispheres with PCi versus 14.9 % in surgically treated hemispheres without PCi (p = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: PCi at initial onset was significantly correlated with poor outcome. Revascularization for the middle cerebral artery territory in patients with PCi was effective at preventing recurrent ischemic stroke.

Power suppression in EEG after the onset of SAH is a significant marker of early brain injury in rat models.

We analyzed the correlation between the duration of electroencephalogram (EEG) recovery and histological outcome in rats in the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to find a new predictor of the subsequent outcome. SAH was induced in eight rats by cisternal blood injection, and the duration of cortical depolarization was measured. EEG power spectrums were given by time frequency analysis, and histology was evaluated. The appropriate frequency band and recovery percentage of EEG (defined as EEG recovery time) to predict the neuronal damage were determined from 25 patterns (5 bands × 5 recovery rates) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Probit regression curves were depicted to evaluate the relationships between neuronal injury and duration of depolarization and EEG recovery. The optimal values of the EEG band and the EEG recovery time to predict neuronal damage were 10-15 Hz and 40%, respectively (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.97). There was a close relationship between the percentage of damaged neurons and the duration of depolarization or EEG recovery time. These results suggest that EEG recovery time, under the above frequency band and recovery rate, may be a novel marker to predict the outcome after SAH.

The potential of an artificial intelligence for diagnosing MRI images in rectal cancer: multicenter collaborative trial.

BACKGROUND: An artificial intelligence-based algorithm we developed, mrAI, satisfactorily segmented the rectal tumor, rectum, and mesorectum from MRI data of rectal cancer patients in an initial study. Herein, we aimed to validate mrAI using an independent dataset. METHODS: We utilized MRI images collected in another nationwide research project, "Open versus Laparoscopic Surgery for Advanced Low Rectal Cancer Patients". MRIs from 467 cases with upfront surgery were utilized; six radiologists centralized the MRI evaluations. The diagnostic accuracies of mrAI and the radiologists for tumor depth were compared using pathologic diagnosis as a reference. RESULTS: For all cases, centralized diagnosis demonstrated 84.2% sensitivity, 37.7% specificity, and 73.7% accuracy; mrAI exhibited 70.6% sensitivity, 61.3% specificity, and 68.5% accuracy. After limiting MRIs to those acquired by a Philips scanner, with an inter-slice spacing of ≤ 6 mm-both conditions similar to those used in the development of mrAI-the performance of mrAI improved to 76.8% sensitivity, 76.7% specificity, and 76.7% accuracy, while the centralized diagnosis showed 81.8% sensitivity, 36.7% specificity, and 71.3% accuracy. Regarding relapse-free survival, the prognosis for tumors staged ≥ T3 was significantly worse than for tumors staged ≤ T2 (P = 0.0484) in the pathologic diagnosis. While no significant difference was observed between ≥ T3 and ≤ T2 tumors in the centralized diagnosis (P = 0.1510), the prognosis for ≥ T3 was significantly worse in the mrAI diagnosis (P = 0.0318). CONCLUSION: Proper imaging conditions for MRI can enhance the accuracy of mrAI, which has the potential to provide feedback to radiologists without overestimating tumor stage.

Allogeneic Stem Cell Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: The Phase 2/3 TREASURE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Cell therapy is a promising treatment approach for stroke and other diseases. However, it is unknown whether MultiStem (HLCM051), a bone marrow-derived, allogeneic, multipotent adult progenitor cell product, has the potential to treat ischemic stroke. Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of MultiStem when administered within 18 to 36 hours of ischemic stroke onset. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Treatment Evaluation of Acute Stroke Using Regenerative Cells (TREASURE) multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase 2/3 randomized clinical trial was conducted at 44 academic and clinical centers in Japan between November 15, 2017, and March 29, 2022. Inclusion criteria were age 20 years or older, presence of acute ischemic stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score of 8-20 at baseline), confirmed acute infarction involving the cerebral cortex and measuring more than 2 cm on the major axis (determined with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging), and a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 or 1 before stroke onset. Data analysis was performed between May 9 and August 15, 2022. Exposure: Patients were randomly assigned to either intravenous MultiStem in 1 single unit of 1.2 billion cells or intravenous placebo within 18 to 36 hours of ischemic stroke onset. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end points were safety and excellent outcome at day 90, measured as a composite of a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or less, a NIHSS score of 1 or less, and a Barthel index score of 95 or greater. The secondary end points were excellent outcome at day 365, mRS score distribution at days 90 and 365, and mRS score of 0 to 1 and 0 to 2 at day 90. Statistical analysis of efficacy was performed using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. Results: This study included 206 patients (104 received MultiStem and 102 received placebo). Their mean age was 76.5 (range, 35-95) years, and more than half of patients were men (112 [54.4%]). There were no between-group differences in primary and secondary end points. The proportion of excellent outcomes at day 90 did not differ significantly between the MultiStem and placebo groups (12 [11.5%] vs 10 [9.8%], P = .90; adjusted risk difference, 0.5% [95% CI, -7.3% to 8.3%]). The frequency of adverse events was similar between treatment groups. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, intravenous administration of allogeneic cell therapy within 18 to 36 hours of ischemic stroke onset was safe but did not improve short-term outcomes. Further research is needed to determine whether MultiStem therapy for ischemic stroke has a beneficial effect in patients who meet specific criteria, as indicated by the exploratory analyses in this study. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02961504.

Novel 3D-CT evaluation of carotid stent volume: greater chronological expansion of stents in patients with vulnerable plaques.

INTRODUCTION: Although self-expanding carotid stents may dilate gradually, the degrees of residual stenosis have been quantified by the NASCET criteria, which is too simple to reflect the configuration of the stented artery. We measured the volumes of the stent lumens chronologically by 3D-CT in patients after carotid artery stenting (CAS), and analyzed the correlations between the volume change and medical factors. METHODS: Fourteen patients with carotid artery stenosis were treated using self-expanding, open-cell stents. All patients underwent preoperative plaque MRI (magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo, MPRAGE) and chronological 3D-CT examinations of their stents immediately after their placement and 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after the procedure. The volume of the stent lumen was measured using a 3D workstation. The correlations between stent volume and various factors including the presence of underlying diseases, plaque characteristics, and the results of the CAS procedure were analyzed. RESULTS: Stent volume gradually increased in each case and had increased by 1.04-1.55 (mean, 1.25)-fold at 1 postoperative month. The presence of underlying medical diseases, plaque length, the degree of residual stenosis immediately after CAS, and plaque calcification did not have an impact on the change in stent volume. On the other hand, the stent volume increase was significantly larger in the patients with vulnerable plaques that demonstrated high MPRAGE signal intensity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A 3D-CT examination is useful for precisely measuring stent volume. Self-expanding stents in carotid arteries containing vulnerable plaques expand significantly more than those without such plaques in a follow-up period.

Clinical and radiographic features of moyamoya disease in patients with both cerebral ischaemia and haemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) very rarely develop both cerebral ischaemia and haemorrhage. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical and radiographic features of MMD in patients who presented with both ischaemia and haemorrhage, compared with MMD patients who presented with one or the other. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 92 consecutive patients with MMD were reviewed. These patients were divided into three groups, according to the type of presentation: ischaemic presentation (Group I); haemorrhagic presentation (Group H); and haemorrhagic-ischaemic presentation (Group H-I). The patient characteristics, areas of infarction, and angiographic findings were evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy-six (82%) of the 92 patients were categorised as Group I, 7 (8%) as Group H, and 9 (10%) as Group H-I. Median follow-up periods for Group H-I was 55 months (IQR, 36-116 months). There were eight females in Group H-I, in which the median age was 30 years. Of the nine cases in Group H-I, six presented with cerebral haemorrhage as the precedent event and three had complications during the acute phase. In Group H-I, the prevalence of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) lesions was high (42%) and infarctions were most frequently found in PCA-related areas. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of steno-occlusive PCA lesions may be of pathogenic importance in MMD patients who develop both cerebral ischaemia and haemorrhage. The prevalence of this type of stroke in MMD patients is higher than expected, and further investigation in clinical settings is thus warranted.

[Endovascular treatment for cervical carotid artery aneurysm: a case report].

We report here a case of cervical carotid artery aneurysm. This 37-year-old male suffered from acute neck swelling when he was taking lunch after physical work. Ultrasonography demonstrated a cervical pseudoaneurysm and a jet flow, which was blowing into the dome from the carotid artery. Angiogram revealed an aneurysm with a diameter of 3 cm at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Coil embolization using double-catheter technique was performed and complete occlusion of the aneurysm was obtained without any complications. The patient returned to his normal life. Cervical carotid artery aneurysms are rare and they induce pain by swelling in the neck, hoarseness, swallowing disturbance, hemorrhage, and cerebral ischemia due to embolism. In case of a cervical carotid artery aneurysm, safe and effective treatments are required and endovascular treatment should be considered. Although stent-assisted coil embolization or covered-stent placement were reported as an effective treatment for cervical aneurysms, coil embolization without using a stent was performed in this particular patient who is a young, blue-collar worker because the avoidance of long-term anti-platelet therapy was desirable. Preoperative evaluation is important to select adequate treatment.

[Surgical and endovascular treatment for superior cerebellar artery aneurysms: report of two cases].

Aneurysms located on the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) are uncommon and their presentation, natural history, and clinical management are poorly understood. Reports related to the endovascular or surgical management of SCA aneurysms are rare. Herein, we report two cases of SCA aneurysm. The first is that of a 70-year-old woman who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Surgical treatment (neck clipping) of the ruptured SCA aneurysm was performed, and the flow of the parent artery disappeared. The second is that of a 69-year-old woman with an unruptured SCA aneurysm who underwent endovascular surgery to occlude the parent artery. Neither patients exhibited any additional neurological deficits. SCA aneurysms often have either relatively wide or undefinable necks, so it is difficult to preserve the parent artery. According to several surgical reports, occlusion of the SCA appears well tolerated for a variety of reasons.

[A case of a paraspinal arteriovenous fistula presenting with retroperitoneal hemorrhage treated by staged transarterial and transvenous embolization].

We report a rare case of a paraspinal arteriovenous fistula(AVF)treated by combined transarterial and transvenous embolization(TAE/TVE). A 72-year-old woman was admitted after a traffic accident. Abdominal enhanced CT disclosed pre-existing large varices at the L3-L4 level in the right retroperitoneum with multiple feeding arteries and veins draining into the extradural venous plexus in the spinal canal. The lesion was diagnosed as a paraspinal AVF. Four days later, the patient went into a state of shock. Emergency abdominal CT showed retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to rupture of the varix. TAE of the feeders from the right L1-L4 arteries was performed, and rebleeding from the varix was prevented. Three months later, follow-up CTA showed regrowth of the AVF, and TVE was performed. Two microcatheters were navigated transvenously into the varix, and detachable coils were delivered into the small compartment just downstream to the shunts, leading to complete obliteration. We conclude that transarterial flow reduction followed by occlusion of the venous side of the shunts is effective to achieve cure of a complex and high-flow paraspinal AVF.

[Endovascular treatment of basilar artery aneurysms associated with fenestration].

Aneurysms at the vertebrobasilar junction are often found with basilar artery(BA)fenestration. We encountered 10 consecutive cases of aneurysms associated with BA fenestration. The purpose of this study is to describe the frequency, clinical features, and outcome of these aneurysms treated by endovascular procedure. The incidence of these aneurysms in our series was 1.9%. All aneurysms were successfully treated by coil embolization. Half of them were treated by using simple technique, and the other half were treated by using adjunctive techniques such as balloon remodeling technique. 70% of these cases were ruptured, and all except one case showed good recovery at the time of discharge. We found 63 reported cases of this aneurysm in the literature between 2000 and 2012. 57 out of 63 aneurysms were treated by endovascular means with good clinical results. The usefulness of endovascular procedure is reported to be superior to surgical clipping because of their anatomical complexity and the difficulty of surgical exposure for clipping. We conclude that outcome of these aneurysms is favorable and endovascular procedure has become their standard treatment for these aneurysms.

18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging of G-CSF-Producing Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Pleura.

ABSTRACT: We report a case of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the pleura in a 71-year-old man. Contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated multiple pleural masses with pulmonary hilar lymph nodes swelling. 18F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated marked focal FDG uptake in the thoracic masses with diffuse uptake in the bone marrow. Based on the pathological findings and elevated serum G-CSF level, the patient was diagnosed as G-CSF-producing inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Because G-CSF-producing tumors demonstrate aggressive clinical course, early and accurate diagnosis is important.

[Endovascular coiling of thrombosed basilar tip aneurysm using double stents in a y-configuration].

Recent advances in endovascular techniques greatly improved the ability to treat complex cerebral aneurysms. However, patients with wide-necked cerebral aneurysms have posed a special challenge to conventional endovascular therapy. We report a novel method of embolizing wide-necked basilar apex aneurysms by employing a Y-configuration, double stent technique. A 40-year-old woman with a partially thrombosed basilar apex aneurysm transferred to our hospital after diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography revealed a wide-necked aneurysm which neck was incorporating the origins of both the posterior cerebral arteries. In treatment procedure, a microcatheter was inserted into the aneurysm followed by coiling of the upper half of the dome. Next, the first stent was deployed in the right P2 segment extending down to the mid basilar artery and the second stent was then deployed with half of the stent in the left P2 and the other half within the lumen of the previously placed stent. Finally, the microcatheter was withdrawn near the neck, and the rest of the aneurysmal dome was packed by additional coils. The result was favorable. Successful coil embolization of a wide-necked bifurcation aneurysm can be achieved by using the double stenting Y-configuration in this case. This result continues to provide highly encouraging support of this novel technique to treat a subset of complex, wide-necked aneurysms that until recently were considered poor candidates for endovascular therapies.