Pilocytic astrocytoma of the optic nerve with intracystic hemorrhage in an adult: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Optic pathway gliomas are uncommon, accounting for 3-5% of childhood brain tumors, and are mostly classified as pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs). PAs of the optic nerve are particularly rare in adults. OBSERVATIONS: The authors presented the case of PA of the left optic nerve in a 49-year-old woman along with detailed pathological and molecular analyses and sequential magnetic resonance imaging. The tumor had progressed during 5 years of follow-up along with cyst formation and intracystic hemorrhage; it had a thick capsule and contained xanthochromic fluid. The boundary between tumor and optic nerve was unclear. B-type Raf kinase (BRAF) V600E point mutations or translocations, IDH1-R132H mutations, loss of alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation X-linked, and 1p/19q codeletion were negative. LESSONS: BRAF alterations in pediatric PAs of the optic nerve are less frequent than those observed in PAs in other lesions; the same molecular pattern was observed in the adult case, without changes in BRAF. Surgical management should be indicated only in cases with severely impaired vision or disfigurement because there is no clear border between the tumor and optic nerve. Further discussion is needed to optimize the treatment for adult optic pathway gliomas, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and molecular-targeted therapies, in addition to surgical intervention.

A Case of Cerebral Tumor Embolism from Extracardiac Lung Cancer Treated by Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Cerebral tumor embolism is a rare cause of acute ischemic stroke, and extracardiac carcinoma is an extremely rare cause. A 34-year-old man who had been diagnosed with lung cancer developed right hemiparesis and aphasia, with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 17. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed early ischemic change in the insular cortex and frontotemporal lobe and left internal carotid artery (ICA) terminal occlusion was confirmed by magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA). Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with contact aspiration by a Penumbra ACE 68, followed by combined technique with a stent retriever was performed, and a soft, fragile embolus was retrieved. Finally, good recanalization was achieved (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [TICI] scale 2b), and on the next day, the right hemiparesis and aphasia were improved. However, the patient's general condition gradually worsened, and 43 days after thrombectomy, he died from respiratory failure. The retrieved embolus was examined pathologically and diagnosed as mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the same type as his lung cancer. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed that tumor invaded the right pulmonary vein and left atrium; these findings suggested that a piece of the tumor in the left atrium flowed into the left ICA and caused the acute ischemic stroke.

Progressive stenosis and radiological findings of vasculitis over the entire internal carotid artery in moyamoya vasculopathy associated with graves' disease: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya vasculopathy (MMV) associated with Graves' disease (GD) is a rare condition resulting in ischemic stroke accompanied by thyrotoxicity. Radiological findings of vasculitis have been reported in the walls of distal internal carotid arteries (ICAs) in these patients; however, no reports have described in detail the processes of progression of the lesions in the proximal ICA. Moreover, treatments to prevent recurrence of ischemic stroke and progression of MMV have not yet been sufficiently elucidated. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a progressive case of MMV associated with GD and review the literature to clarify relationships among recurrence, progression, thyrotoxicity and treatment. Our patient developed cerebral infarction during thyrotoxicity with no obvious stenosis of ICAs. Five months later, transient ischemic attacks recurred with thyrotoxicity. Antiplatelet therapy and intravenous methylprednisolone stopped the attacks. Stenosis of the left ICA from the proximal to distal portion and champagne bottle neck sign (CBN) were found. She declined any surgery. Afterward, gradual progression with mild thyrotoxicity was observed. Eventually, we found smooth, circumferential, concentric wall thickening with diffuse gadolinium enhancement of the left ICA from the proximal to the distal portion on T1-weighted imaging, suggesting vasculitis radiologically. The clinical and radiological similarities to Takayasu arteritis encouraged us to provide treatment as for vasculitis of medium-to-large vessels. In a euthyroid state and after administration of prednisolone and methotrexate, improved flow in the cerebrovascular arteries on magnetic resonance angiography was observed. Based on our review of the literature, all cases with recurrence or progression were treated with anti-thyroid medication (ATM) alone and accompanied by thyrotoxicity. CBN was observed in all previous cases for which images of the proximal ICA were available. CONCLUSIONS: We report the details of progressive stenosis from a very early stage and radiological findings of vasculitis over the entire ICA in MMV associated with GD. Cerebral infarction can occur with no obvious stenosis of the ICA. We treated the patient as per vasculitis of a medium-to-large vessel. Management of GD by ATM alone seems risky in terms of recurrence. Adequate management of GD and possible vasculitis may be important for preventing recurrence and progression.

Relationship between low response to clopidogrel and periprocedural ischemic events with coil embolization for intracranial aneurysms.

OBJECTIVES: Low response to antiplatelet drugs is one of the risk factors for ischemic events. We examined the influence of low response to clopidogrel on symptomatic ischemic events and new ischemic MRI lesions with endovascular intracranial aneurysmal coil embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 2010 and July 2013, 189 procedures in 181 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular coiling and received clopidogrel before treatment were investigated retrospectively. Platelet aggregation activity was examined by VerifyNow analysis. Low response to clopidogrel was defined as P2Y12 reaction units ≥230 in this study. Symptomatic ischemic complications within 30 days and postoperative new ischemic lesions on MRI-diffusion weighted imaging were evaluated. RESULTS: 66 of 189 (34.9%) cases were low responders to clopidogrel. Ischemic complications occurred in 2 of 66 (3.0%) low responders compared with 6 of 123 (4.9%) responders (p=0.72). A new high intensity spot larger than 5 mm was significantly more frequent in low responders (26 of 66; 39.4%) than in responders (26 of 121; 21.2%; p=0.01). On multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for larger new ischemic lesions were low response to clopidogrel, smokers, posterior location, and aneurysms with a larger neck. CONCLUSIONS: Low response to clopidogrel had little effect on clinical outcome although it increased asymptomatic large ischemic lesions in this cohort.

Results and current trends of multimodality treatment for infectious intracranial aneurysms.

The authors retrospectively reviewed their cases of infectious intracranial aneurysms and discuss results and trends of current treatment modalities including medical, neurosurgical, and endovascular. Twenty patients (10 males and 10 females; mean age 46 years) with 23 infectious aneurysms were treated by various treatment modalities during a 15-year period. Fifteen cases (75.0%) were caused by infective endocarditis. Eleven aneurysms (47.8%) were ruptured. Two aneurysms (8.7%) presented a mass effect and 7 (30.4%) were unruptured and asymptomatic. The average aneurysm size was 6.5 ± 4.8 mm (range 1-22 mm). The aneurysms were located in proximal cerebral circulation in 7 (30.4%) and distal in 16 (69.6%). Six (26.1%) aneurysms were treated surgically (5: trapping, 1: neck clipping), 10 (43.5%) endovascularly (7: trapping, 2: proximal occlusion, 1: saccular coiling), and the remaining 7 (30.4%) medically. Endovascular treatment was gradually increased with time. Medical and surgical treatments were continuously performed during the study period. Surgery was preferred for the patient with intraparenchymal hematoma or treated by bypass surgery. Three periprocedural minor complications occurred in endovascular treatment. There was one postoperative infarction with permanent deficit developed from surgical treatment. During the follow-up period (mean 28.8 months), none of the aneurysms presented a recurrence or rebleeding. Thirteen patients (65.0%) had favorable clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale: 0-2), although four (20.0%) had poor outcomes (modified Rankin Score: 5-6). A multimodal approach for the management of infectious aneurysms achieved satisfactory results. Endovascular intervention is a feasible and efficacious treatment option and surgical intervention is still an indispensable procedure.

The 'one and a half round microcatheterization technique' for stent-assisted coil embolization of intracranial aneurysm: technical case series.

BACKGROUND: Stent-assisted coil embolization is useful for wide-necked, large and giant aneurysms, and is effective for avoiding coil herniation. However, the mobility of the microcatheter is often restricted, resulting in deviated or unbalanced coiling. In order to prevent this insufficient coiling, the authors devised a method for microcatheterization, the 'one and a half round microcatheterization technique'. This technique is based on the formation of a one and a half round loop by the microcatheter along the aneurysmal wall. Furthermore, this technique can be supplemented with the double-catheter technique. METHODS: From July 2010 to July 2012, the authors used this technique for 20 aneurysms in 20 patients (6 men and 14 women; mean age 61.7 years). The one and a half round microcatheterization technique was used alone in 12 cases and was supplemented with the double-catheter technique in eight. The clinical and angiographic results were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The average aneurysm size was 16.7 mm; 12 aneurysms (60%) were located at the internal carotid artery, 5 (25%) at the basilar artery and 3 (15%) at the vertebral artery. Immediate angiographic results showed complete obliteration in 6 aneurysms (30%) and residual neck in 10 (50%), leaving 4 residual aneurysms (20%). This technique was useful and acceptably safe for packing the aneurysmal sac entirely. During an average follow-up of 20.5 months, 13 of the 18 aneurysms (72%) were stable or had improved, although 3 (16%) required retreatment. CONCLUSIONS: The one and a half round microcatheterization technique provides dense coil packing for stent-assisted embolization of large or giant aneurysms.

[Systematic review of complications for proper informed consent (9) periprocedural complications of carotid artery stenting: a review article].

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery stenting(CAS)is a common procedure for the treatment of high surgical risk patients with carotid artery stenosis. Recent clinical study failed to show the non-inferiority of CAS to carotid endarterectomy(CEA)because of higher complication rates of CAS. However the result of a multicenter case study in Japan with tailored application of adequate devices including stents and protection devices revealed the safety of CAS in Japan. In this article the overall review in the previous reports of CAS are reviewed focusing on the complications and clinical outcome. METHOD: Five randomized controlled trials concerning CAS versus CEA and 14 case series of CAS were reviewed, and the rates of periprocedural complications of CAS including death, stroke, myocardial infarction, hypotension and bradycardia, cranial nerve palsy, major vascular injury, cholesterol crystal embolization and hyperperfusion syndrome were summarized. RESULT: Mortality within 30 days of procedures was 0.9%. The rate of any stroke was 6.0% from the five RCT results, but a recent 14-case series reported any stroke rate at 3-4% and severe stroke rate at 1-2% respectively. The rates of acute myocardial infarction, hypotension, and bradycardia were 1%, 4%, and 4-12% respectively. The rate of bleeding complication of the access root was about 2% and non-bleeding was 1-2%. Cholesterol crystal embolization occurred in 0.2%. Incidence of hyperperfusion syndrome occurred in 1.5%, and intracranial hemorrhage in 0.8%. CONCLUSION: Historically, the rapid improvement of devices and technical skills have contributed to the better clinical results. Also the lessons from complication cases have led to more appropriate indication and perfect protection to avoid adverse events. Therefore the rate of complication is always improving and those written in this article may not reflect the present real number. This article should be quoted with the previous reference as well as the newest data according to the operator's own experiences on taking informed consent.

[Resistance to antiplatelet agents assessed by a point-of-care platelet function test and thromboembolic adverse events in neurointervention].

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the frequency of Japanese patients who are resistant to antiplatelet agents, and then clarify correlations between resistance and thromboembolic adverse events in neurointervention. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 163 patients who were taking antiplatelet agents and received neurointervention, with 128 samples collected just before neurointervention. Residual platelet function was measured using a point-of-care platelet function test, VerifyNow®, and then the frequency of patients resistant to drugs (low-responders), correlations between resistance and thromboembolic events, and effects of adding cilostazol to clopidogrel administration were analyzed. Cut-off values were defined as 550 Aspirin Reaction Units (ARU), 230 P2Y12 Reaction Units (PRU), and 50%inhibition of P2Y12, respectively. RESULTS: Three of 105 patients (2.9%) taking aspirin at 100 mg/day were low-responders, whereas 48 (41.0%, as measured by PRU) or 80 (68.4%, as measured by %inhibition) of 117 patients taking clopidogrel at 75 mg/day were low-responders. Among the 19 patients taking cilostazol 200 mg/day in addition to clopidogrel 75 mg/day, platelet functions were significantly more strongly inhibited compared to patients taking clopidogrel alone (p=0.02 by PRU, p=0.005 by %inhibition). Thromboembolic adverse events occurred in 7 patients. Among these 7 patients, 6 who were taking aspirin were all responders to aspirin, while 4 of the 6 patients taking clopidogrel were low-responders to clopidogrel. In 69 patients who received aneurysmal transarterial embolization, 2 thromboembolic complications occurred among low-responders (p=0.09). CONCLUSION: Aspirin resistance is rare in Japanese individuals. With aneurysmal transarterial embolization, thromboembolic events tended to occur among clopidogrel low-responders. Addition of cilostazol may offer one method of overcoming clopidogrel resistance.

[Bilateral thalamic glioma in an adult: a case report and review of the literature].

We report a case of a 36-year-old woman who had a rare bilateral thalamic glioma (BTG). She complained of memory disorder T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlarged bilateral thalami with homogenous isointensity and no contrast enhancement. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen identified diffuse astrocytoma (WHO grade II). BTG is a rare variant of thalamic neoplasms, which can be distinguished clinically and radiologically from other gliomas. In most of the reported cases, the presenting symptoms were cognitive impairment varying from personality changes to frank dementia. Death usually occurs within two years after onset, independently of adjuvant therapy such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. On neuroimaging, all of the BTG had a similar appearance, with both thalami being symmetrically enlarged. Our patient has been given radiotherapy and concominant and adjuvant temozolomide in Stupp's regimen. At the time of this writing (5 months after the consultation), there are no neurological symptoms, and no changes on neuroimaging.