Increased aneurysm wall permeability colocalized with low wall shear stress in unruptured saccular intracranial aneurysm.

Aneurysm wall permeability has recently emerged as an in vivo marker of aneurysm wall remodeling. We sought to study the spatial relationship between hemodynamic forces derived from 4D-flow MRI and aneurysm wall permeability by DCE-MRI in a region-based analysis of unruptured saccular intracranial aneurysms (IAs). We performed 4D-flow MRI and DCE-MRI on patients with unruptured IAs of ≥ 5 mm to measure hemodynamic parameters, including wall shear stress (WSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), WSS temporal (WSSGt) and spatial (WSSGs) gradient, and aneurysm wall permeability (Ktrans) in different sectors of aneurysm wall defined by evenly distributed radial lines emitted from the aneurysm center. The spatial association between Ktrans and hemodynamic parameters measured at the sector level was evaluated. Thirty-one patients were scanned. Ktrans not only varied between aneurysms but also demonstrated spatial heterogeneity within an aneurysm. Among all 159 sectors, higher Ktrans was associated with lower WSS, which was seen in both Spearman's correlation analysis (rho = - 0.18, p = 0.025) and linear regression analysis using generalized estimating equation to account for correlations between multiple sectors of the same aneurysm (regression coefficient = - 0.33, p = 0.006). Aneurysm wall permeability by DCE-MRI was shown to be spatially heterogenous in unruptured saccular IAs and associated with local WSS by 4D-flow MRI.

Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes After Stent-Assisted Coiling of Cerebral Aneurysms With Laser-Cut and Braided Stents: A Comparative Analysis of the Literatures.

Introduction: Stent-assisted coiling (SAC) plays an important role in endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). This comparative analysis examines the safety and efficacy of SAC in general and compares clinical and angiographic outcomes between laser-cut stents and braided stents. Methods: Relevant English-language studies were identified via a PubMed search for published articles regarding outcomes of SAC using laser-cut stents and braided stents published from 2015 to 2020. Data from 56 studies that met our inclusion criteria were pooled and statistically compared. Results: A total of 4,373 patients harboring with 4,540 IAs were included. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of stent type: laser-cut stents (2,076 aneurysms in 1991 patients; mean follow-up, 12.99 months) and braided stents (2,464 aneurysms in 2382 patients; mean follow-up, 18.41 months). Overall, the rates of successful stent deployment, thromboembolic events, stent stenosis, periprocedural intracranial hemorrhage, permanent morbidity, mortality, and recanalization were 97.72, 4.72, 2.87, 1.51, 2.14, 1.16, and 6.06%, respectively. Laser-cut stents were associated with a significantly higher rate of successful deployment (p = 0.003) and significantly lower rate of periprocedural intracranial hemorrhage (p = 0.048). Braided stents were associated with a significantly lower rate of permanent morbidity (p = 0.015). Conclusion: SAC of IAs using laser-cut stents or braided stents was effective and safe. Rates of thromboembolic events, stent stenosis, mortality, and recanalization were comparable between the stent types. Braided stents were associated with lower permanent morbidity while laser-cut stents were associated with more favorable rates of successful deployment and periprocedural intracranial hemorrhage.

Case Report: Persistent Primitive Hypoglossal Artery Accompanied by a Basilar Bifurcation Aneurysm Treated by Y-Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization.

Successful embolization of a basilar bifurcation aneurysm associated with a persistent primitive hypoglossal artery (PPHA) using Y-stent-assisted coiling.

Pediatric Patient With a Giant Vertebrobasilar Dissecting Aneurysm Successfully Treated With Three Pipeline Embolization Devices.

Pediatric intracranial dissecting aneurysms are rare (1), and treating this type of aneurysm in the vertebrobasilar circulation is more difficult. As an off-label application, pipeline embolization devices (PEDs) for posterior circulation dissecting aneurysms are reported to have good therapeutic effect (2). However, studies have found that PEDs for large or giant vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms have a poor effect and are associated with disastrous consequences for patients (3). PEDs are feasible for vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms (4); however, few reports discuss using PEDs to span the entire segment of the basilar artery. Because there are more perforating arteries in the basilar artery, it is more prudent to use PEDs in this artery. We report a case of a pediatric patient with a giant vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysm successfully treated with three PEDs combined with right vertebral artery occlusion, without complications. The patient's headache symptoms resolved fully 3 months after the procedure, and the aneurysm was completely healed and excellent reconstruction of the left vertebral artery was seen 4 months post-procedure, using digital subtraction angiography.

Evaluating the Tubridge™ flow diverter for large cavernous carotid artery aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The Tubridge™ flow diverter (TFD) was recently developed in China; however, its safety and efficacy in treating large cavernous carotid artery aneurysms (LCCAs) are unclear. Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the TFD in patients receiving TFDs to treat LCCAs (10-25 mm). METHODS: Between June 2013 and May 2014, seven patients with LCCAs were enrolled in our study, and all seven patients underwent TFD implantation combined with coils. RESULTS: Angiographic follow-up images were available for all seven patients at a median of 57.5 ± 16.7 (range, 6-69) months. Seven patients obtained favorable angiographic results defined as O'Kelly-Marotta Scale C and D. Clinical follow-up data were available for all seven patients at a median of 73.32 ± 3.6 (range, 66-78) months. No patients developed new neurological deficits. Six patients achieved a modified Rankin scale score of 0, and diplopia improved in the remaining patient. CONCLUSIONS: The results were excellent for the aneurysms treated with TFDs in our patients with LCCAs. TFDs are feasible for the treatment of LCCAs, but a multicenter, controlled clinical trial is needed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of the TFD to treat LCCAs.

Endovascular Treatment of Large or Giant Non-saccular Vertebrobasilar Aneurysms: Pipeline Embolization Devices Versus Conventional Stents.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment of large or giant non-saccular vertebrobasilar aneurysms (VBAs) by conventional stents is difficult and has unsatisfactory outcomes. OBJECT: This study was performed to retrospectively analyze the safety and efficacy of a flow diverter in treating large and giant non-saccular VBAs. METHODS: We identified 78 patients with 83 large or giant non-saccular VBAs who accepted endovascular treatment with a pipeline embolization device (PED) or conventional stent from January 2014 to June 2018. The technical details of the procedure, procedure-associated complications, angiographic outcomes, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-two patients (53.8%, 42/78) with 44 aneurysms (53.0%, 44/83) underwent endovascular treatment with PEDs. Thirty-six patients (46.2%, 36/78) with 39 aneurysms (47.0%, 39/83) underwent endovascular treatment with conventional stents. The complication rate of PED group and conventional stent group was 7.1% (3/42) and 5.6% (2/36), respectively (odds ratio, 0.765; 95% confidence interval, 0.121-4.851; P = 0.776). During a median follow-up time of 28.8 months, the complete occlusion rate in the PED group and conventional stent group was 90.2% (37/41) and 70.3% (26/37), respectively (odds ratio, 3.913; 95% confidence interval, 1.122-13.652; P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment with a PED is a promising and safe modality for large and giant non-saccular VBAs, and the complication rate is acceptable, compared with conventional endovascular treatment.

Outcomes in Symptomatic Patients With Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia Following Endovascular Treatment.

Objective: To evaluate whether the presenting symptoms of VBD predict outcomes following endovascular treatment. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our institutional clinical database and identified 22 patients (all men; mean age: 52.6 years, range: 11-73 years) with a diagnosis of VBD, who underwent endovascular treatment from January 2010 to December 2017. Results: After analyzing the clinical and imaging data, we evaluated data for 22 symptomatic patients with VBD. At the time of VBD diagnosis, 13 patients (59%) had compressive symptoms, four (18%) had hemorrhagic symptoms, and five (23%) had ischemic symptoms. Nine of the 22 patients (41%), who presented with hemorrhagic and ischemic symptoms, achieved a satisfactory clinical and/or digital subtraction angiography imaging outcome after endovascular treatment. However, of the 13 patients who presented with compressive symptoms, seven (54%, 7/13) died from severe brainstem compression during follow-up; furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging showed worsening of the mass effect in eight patients with compressive symptoms (62%, 8/13). Conclusions: VBD is considered a challenging lesion without an ideal treatment modality. Endovascular treatment of VBD in patients presenting with compressive symptoms at diagnosis may not be beneficial. However, long-term outcomes following endovascular treatment may be acceptable in patients with non-compressive symptoms at diagnosis compared with those with compressive symptoms.

Application of the Pipeline Embolization Device for Giant Vertebrobasilar Dissecting Aneurysms in Pediatric Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the pipeline embolization device (PED) for the treatment of pediatric giant vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms (VBDAs). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our institutional clinical database and identified 2,706 patients who presented with a diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms from January 2016 to June 2018. Among this group, 153 patients were diagnosed with VBDAs, and 54 of these patients underwent PED therapy. The PED technique was used in four patients who were 18 years old or younger at the time of presentation (two males, two females; mean age 9.25 years; age range 8-11 years). Results: All four included pediatric patients were managed with the PED. One patient (25%) was treated with the PED alone, while three (75%) were treated with the PED and coils. One patient died from brainstem infarction or compression of the brainstem, while follow-up of the other three patients revealed favorable outcomes. The mass effect was reduced in cases 1, 2, and 3 on follow-up MRI performed 6 months after the PED procedure. Conclusions: PEDs could be feasible in the treatment of pediatric giant VBDAs. However, the safety and efficacy of this method have not been clarified in this special pediatric population, and long-term follow-up is still necessary.

Corrigendum: Application of the Pipeline Embolization Device for Giant Vertebrobasilar Dissecting Aneurysms in Pediatric Patients.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00179.].