Carotid Artery Stenting Using Stent-in-Stent Technique with a Closed-Cell Stent and a Dual-Layer Micromesh Stent: A Case Report.

Objective: Recent studies evaluating plaque protrusion at carotid artery stenting (CAS) using optical coherence tomography showed not a few cases of plaque protrusion when using double-layer micromesh stents. We report a case of symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis with at-risk unstable plaques in which CAS was successfully performed using a stent-in-stent technique by the combined use of a closed-cell stent and a dual-layer micromesh stent. Case Presentation: An 87-year-old Japanese man with dysarthria and right hemiparesis was diagnosed with atheromatous cerebral embolism caused by severe left ICA stenosis on MRI and DSA. MRI with T1-weighted black blood methods showed high intensities in the plaques of the left ICA, suggesting unstable plaque characteristics with intraplaque hemorrhage components. On day 20, CAS was performed. After the pre-stent dilation under proximal and distal protection, a Carotid WALLSTENT was placed to cover the stenotic lesion. Then, a CASPER Rx was placed from the proximal left ICA to the common carotid artery to cover the Carotid WALLSTENT. Although visible plaque debris was recognized in the aspirated blood, the debris became invisible after aspiration of 1300 mL. Postoperative angiography showed enough dilation of the left ICA, with no plaque protrusion or acute stent thrombosis. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged without any neurological sequelae. Conclusion: The present case suggests that the combined stent-in-stent technique using a closed-cell stent and a micromesh stent can be considered as one of the treatment strategies for preventing plaque protrusion and procedural ischemic complications in patients with high-risk carotid plaques.

Possible Delayed Foreign Body Reactions against Titanium Clips and Coating Materials after Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm Surgery.

Delayed foreign body reactions to either or both clipping and coating materials have been reported in several small series; however, studies in the titanium clip era are scarce. This study aims to survey the contemporary status of such reactions to titanium clips and coating materials. Among patients who received a total of 2327 unruptured cerebral aneurysmal surgeries, 12 developed delayed intraparenchymal reactions during outpatient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow-up. A retrospective investigation was conducted. The patients' average age was 58.6 (45-73) years, and 11 were women. The aneurysms were located in the middle cerebral artery (n = 7), internal carotid artery (n = 4), or anterior communicating artery (AComA, n = 1). In 10 patients, additional coating with tiny cotton fragments was applied to the residual neck after clipping with titanium clips; however, only the clipping with titanium clips was performed in the remaining two. The median time from surgery to diagnosis was 4.5 (0.3-60) months. Seven (58.3%) patients were asymptomatic, and three developed neurological deficits. MRI findings were characterized by a solid- or rim-enhancing lobulated mass adjacent to the clip with surrounding parenchymal edema. In 11 patients, the lesions reduced in size or disappeared; however, in one patient, an AComA aneurysm was exacerbated, necessitating its removal along with optic nerve decompression. In conclusion, cotton material is a strongly suspected cause of delayed foreign body reactions, and although extremely rare, titanium clips alone may also induce such a reaction. The prognosis is relatively good with steroid therapy; however, caution is required when the aneurysm is close to the optic nerve, as in AComA aneurysms.

Successful treatment with urgent revascularization and parent artery occlusion for a ruptured intratumoral aneurysm following prior meningioma surgery: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: An intratumoral aneurysm encased within the associated intracranial tumor is rare, and hemorrhage caused by its rupture is even more rare. While urgent and adequate surgical treatment is important, the treatment can be difficult given the limited understanding of this rare condition. OBSERVATIONS: A 69-year-old man who had undergone meningioma surgery 30 years prior presented with a disturbance in consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed massive intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage. A round, partially calcified mass, which was diagnosed as recurrent meningioma, was also observed. Subsequent cerebral angiography revealed that the source of the hemorrhage was an intratumoral aneurysm in the dorsal internal carotid artery (ICA) encased within the recurrent meningioma. Urgent surgical ICA trapping and high-flow graft bypass were conducted. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he was referred to another hospital for rehabilitation. LESSONS: This is the first case report of a ruptured intratumoral aneurysm being treated with urgent combined revascularization and parent artery trapping surgery. This surgical approach may be a feasible treatment option for such a challenging condition. Additionally, this case highlights the importance of diligent long-term follow-up after skull-base surgery, as minor intraoperative vascular wall injury may trigger the development and rupture of an intracerebral aneurysm.

Treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in subacute phase; retrospective comparison of treatment in sub- and hyper-acute phases.

OBJECTIVE: As soon as possible treatment initiation for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is recommended. However, some patients require treatment in "subacute" phase of aSAH, defined in this study as "more than one day after the onset". To establish an optimal treatment strategy for these patients, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical experience of treating ruptured aneurysm with either clipping or coiling in subacute phase. METHODS: Patients treated for aSAH between 2015 and 2021were analyzed. Patients were divided into the hyperacute phase (within 24 h) and subacute phase (later than 24 h) groups. The subacute group was analyzed to determine whether the selected procedure and its timing affected postoperative course and clinical outcomes. In addition, we conducted a multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine the independent factors that affect clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Of 215 patients, 31 were treated in the subacute phase. While cerebral vasospasm at initial imaging was more frequently observed in subacute group, there was no difference in incidence of postoperative vasospasms. Patients in subacute group seemed to have better clinical outcomes due to the milder severity at the time of treatment initiation. Risk of angiographic vasospasm seemed to be higher in patients treated with clipping than coiling, while no difference was seen in clinical outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the timing and selected treatment did not significantly affect the clinical outcome or the occurrence of delayed vasospasm. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of aSAH in the subacute phase may also result in favorable clinical outcomes, similar to patients treated in the hyperacute phase with mild presentation. However, further investigations are required to establish the optimal treatment strategies for such patients.

Clinical characteristics of endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke with atherosclerotic etiology: Factors associating its clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical characteristics of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to atherosclerosis are not fully delineated. An optimal treatment strategy with considerations of stroke etiology has not yet been established. Here-in, we performed retrospective analysis of EVT for atherosclerotic AIS. METHODS: Data from patients with AIS who underwent EVT between 2017 and 2022 were analyzed. Clinical characteristics, procedural data, and outcomes were assessed. Further analysis was conducted to elucidate the factors associated with clinical outcomes. And data of patients with poor clinical outcomes (mRS, 5 or 6) were evaluated further to determine the primary cause. RESULTS: Among 194 patients who received EVT, 40 (20.6%) were diagnosed with AIS with an atherosclerotic etiology. The rates of successful reperfusion (TICI 2b or 3) and good clinical outcomes (mRS, 0-2) were 95.0% and 45.0%, respectively. No procedure-related complications were noted. Older age (p = 0.007), more severe baseline NIHSS score (p = 0.004), lesion in the posterior circulation (p = 0.025), and recanalization failure (p = 0.027) were more frequently observed in patients with poor clinical outcomes. Brainstem infarction and postprocedural intracerebral hemorrhage were the main reasons for poor clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: The EVT for atherosclerotic AIS were effective and safe. Older age, more severe NIHSS score, lesions in the posterior circulation, and recanalization failure were the factors associated with poor clinical outcomes. It is important to recognize that these factors may aggravate the clinical response to this promising therapy, even in patient successful recanalization was attained.

Current Treatment Results of Intracranial Carotid Artery Dissection Causing Cerebral Ischemia: A Japanese Nationwide Survey.

Intracranial carotid artery dissection causing cerebral ischemia is a rare but important cause of cerebral infarction in children and adolescents. Although endovascular therapy has been reported to be effective, questions regarding the indications for intervention are yet to be addressed. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate factors related to clinical outcomes through a nationwide survey. Overall, 35 neurosurgical centers reported patients within 2 weeks after ischemic onset due to intracranial carotid artery dissection causing cerebral ischemia treated between January 2015 and December 2020. Data on clinical and radiological findings were statistically analyzed. Twenty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 36 years (range, 7-59 years), without sex differences. Headache at onset was documented in 60.7% of the patients. Dissection findings were categorized into stenosis (71.4%) or occlusion (28.6%). Initial treatments, including various antithrombotic agent combinations in 23 (82.1%) patients, effectively improved or prevented aggravation in half of the patients. The patients with stenotic dissection were significantly more likely to experience aggravation during the initial treatment than did those with occlusive dissection (P = 0.03). In addition, the patients with moderate to severe neurological deficits on admission had poorer outcomes at discharge more frequently than did those with mild neurological deficits on admission. Eight patients undergoing endovascular therapy had no procedural complications or further aggravation after intervention. In conclusion, patients with intracranial carotid dissection causing cerebral ischemia who had a stenotic dissection were at risk of further aggravation, and endovascular therapy effectively improved or prevented aggravation.

Induction of large cerebral aneurysms by intraperitoneal administration of ß-aminopropionitrile fumarate in male rats.

BACKGROUND: It is necessary and useful to obtain an experimental model which steadily and rapidly induces aneurysms for investigation of the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysm. We attempted to examine whether intraperitoneal administration of ß-aminopropionitrile fumarate (BAPN-F) with additional treatments of induced hypertension and hemodynamic stress could steadily and rapidly induce aneurysms in male rats. METHODS: Seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with ligation of left common carotid and bilateral posterior renal arteries were administrated BAPN-F intraperitoneally. Induction rate and size of aneurysms was investigated with varying dose and duration of BAPN-F administration (low dose; 400 mg/kg/week for 4 or 8 weeks and high dose; 2800 mg/kg/week for 8 or 12 weeks). RESULTS: Induction rate in the high-dose groups was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that in the low-dose groups. Making comparisons between 8 and 12 weeks of the high-dose groups, while there was no difference in induction rate (8 weeks; 85.2% vs. 12 weeks; 76.9%), aneurysmal size was larger in 12 weeks (8 weeks; 127.5 µm, vs. 12 weeks; 181.7 µm in terms of median) but lethal intrathoracic hemorrhage was increased in 12 weeks (8 weeks; 7.4% vs. 12 weeks; 30.8%). Induction rate of large aneurysm was 22.2% and 30.8% in 8 and 12 weeks of the high-dose groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose BAPN-F administration can cause high-frequency aneurysmal induction. Although there was the difference in size and mortality rate based on administration duration, intraperitoneal administration of 2800 mg/kg/week BAPN-F for 8 weeks would be suitable for aneurysmal induction.

Characteristics of MRI Findings after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and D-Dimer as a Predictive Value for Early Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: The pathological mechanisms of early brain injury (EBI) have remained obscure. Several studies have reported on the neuroradiological findings of EBI. However, to our knowledge, no study has attempted to explore the mechanism of EBI after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Therefore, this study evaluates whether the initial plasma D-dimer levels were associated with EBI, classifies magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and speculates about the mechanism of EBI. METHODS: This study included 97 patients hospitalized within 24 h from the onset of nontraumatic SAH. The patients underwent MRI within 0-5 days from onset (before vasospasm) to detect EBI. EBI was radiologically defined as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-positive lesions that appear dark on apparent diffusion coefficient maps, excluding procedure-related lesions. EBI, plasma D-dimer levels, and clinical features were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: Elevated D-dimer levels were associated with poor outcomes. Patients with EBI had significantly higher D-dimer levels than those without EBI. EBI was detected in 24 patients (27.3%) of all, and in 22 (45%) of 49 patients with World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade 4-5 SAH. EBI was frequently observed in the paramedian frontal lobe. There were several types of the pathology in EBI, including widespread symmetrical cerebral cortex lesions, focal cortex lesions, periventricular injury, and other lesions impossible to classify due to unknown mechanisms such as thrombotic complication and microcirculatory disturbance, ultra-early spasm, and spreading depolarization. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that D-dimer levels predict poor outcomes in patients with SAH and that EBI was associated high D-dimer levels.

Acute systematic inflammatory response syndrome and serum biomarkers predict outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can trigger immune activation sufficient to induce systematic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Serum inflammatory biomarkers and SIRS can predict a poor outcome. The relationship between surgical stress and inflammatory response is well known but described in few reports in the neurosurgical population. We aimed to ascertain whether postoperative SIRS and initial serum biomarkers were associated with outcomes and evaluate whether the postoperative SIRS score differed between those with clipping and coil embolization. We evaluated 87 patients hospitalized within 24 h from onset of nontraumatic SAH. Serum biomarkers, such as levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC), and D-dimer, as well as stress index (SI: blood sugar/K ratio) were obtained at admission. SIRS scores 3 days after admission were derived by adding the number of variables meeting the standard criteria (heart rate [HR] >90, respiratory rate [RR] >20, temperature >38 °C or <36 °C, and WBC count <4000 or >12,000). Clinical variables were compared according to whether they were associated with poor outcomes. Coil embolization was performed in 30 patients and clipping in 57. WBC, SI, D-dimer levels, and SIRS scores were significantly higher in patients with poor-grade SAH and were associated with poor outcomes. SIRS scores were significantly higher with clipping than with coil embolization among patients with good-grade SAH without intracerebral hemorrhage. Acute SIRS and serum biomarkers predict outcomes after SAH. Moreover, our study suggests the influence of surgical invasion via clipping on SIRS after SAH.

[Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae in the Tentorium Manifesting as Dementia].

BACKGROUND: Tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula(dAVF)is a relatively rare disease which accounts for about 4.8% of all types of dAVF reported in Japan. Approximately 12.5% of intracranial dAVFs manifest with dementia-like symptoms. However, a tentorial dAVF typically presents more aggressively and rarely manifests as dementia. Here, we report the case of a patient with a tentorial dAVF manifesting as dementia, who was successfully treated with surgical interruption of the draining vein using indocyanine green video angiography(ICG-VA). CASE PRESENTATION: A case of a 69-year-old man with a history of colon cancer, hypertension, and previous stroke presenting with cognitive impairment. CT showed multiple intracranial hemorrhages in the left parietal and occipital lobes, and MRI demonstrated flow void in the left cerebellopontine angle. DSA revealed left tentorial dAVF with venous reflux. We performed surgical interruption of the draining vein. The patient's mental status immediately returned to baseline. Serial MRIs showed decreasing edema in the left occipital lobe and thalamus. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairment is an uncommon but curable symptom of tentorial dAVF. Surgical interruption of the draining vein using ICG-VA is a relatively simple and safe procedure to perform in such a case.

Superficial Temporal Artery-Superior Cerebellar Artery Bypass with Anterior Petrosectomy.

BACKGROUND: Superficial temporal artery (STA) to superior cerebellar artery (SCA) bypass is associated with a relatively high risk of surgical complications, such as hematoma and/or edema caused by temporal lobe retraction. Therefore, the right side is typically used to avoid retraction of the left temporal lobe. In this report, we present a case of left STA-SCA bypass with anterior petrosectomy to avoid retraction of dominant-side temporal lobe and describe the surgical technique in detail. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 69-year-old man presented with gradual worsening of dysarthria and gait disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging showed no signs of acute infarction, but digital subtraction angiography showed severe stenosis of basilar artery and faint flow in the distal basilar artery. On 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography, posterior communicating arteries were not visualized; we could identify the left SCA, but not the right SCA. Despite dual antiplatelet therapy, a small fresh brainstem infarct was detected 10 days after admission. To avert fatal brainstem infarction and further enlargement of the infarct, we performed left STA-SCA bypass with anterior petrosectomy to avoid retraction of the dominant-side temporal lobe. Postoperative imaging revealed no new lesions, such as infarction or temporal lobe contusional hematoma, and confirmed the patency of the bypass. Postoperative single-photon emission computed tomography demonstrated improved cerebral blood flow in the posterior circulation. The patient was transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: This method helps minimize the risk of injury to the temporal lobe, especially that of the dominant side.

Impact of Antiplatelets and Anticoagulants on the Prognosis of Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) associated with antithrombotic therapy (AT) is becoming more common as the use of those medications increases in the aging population. METHODS: This study included 490 consecutive patients hospitalized for nontraumatic ICH in a single center during an 8-year period, which was subdivided into former (2008-2011) and latter (2012-2015). Patients were classified into those with no antithrombotic drugs (NATs) and those with AT. The AT group was divided into 4 subgroups according to medications: antiplatelet (AP1), multiple antiplatelets (AP2), anticoagulant (AC), and antiplatelet and anticoagulant (APC). We evaluated the clinical characteristics and prognosis and compared the number of patients on AT between the former and latter groups. RESULTS: There were 125 patients treated with AT (25.5%), including 50 (10.2%) on AP1, 14 (2.9%) on AP2, 32 (6.5%) on ACs, and 29 (5.9%) on APCs. Compared with the former group, the latter group had a higher number of patients on AT (19.3% versus 31.7%), AP1 (9.8% versus 10.6%), AP2 (1.6% versus 4.1%), ACs (4.9% versus 8.1%), and APCs (2.90% versus 8.9%). Compared with the NAT group, the patients in the AT group had a larger ICH volume, more frequent hematoma expansion, and higher rate of poor outcome, particularly for those on APCs. CONCLUSION: The number of ICH patients on AT has increased; these patients were more likely to have a poor prognosis than those who were not on AT. Care should be taken when giving a combination of antiplatelets and anticoagulants in ICH.

Effect of Headache on the Pathologic Findings of Unruptured Cerebral Saccular Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Some patients with aneurysm exhibit warning headaches without minor bleeding, and this could be caused by stretching of the aneurysm wall. Recently, our pathologic study observed subintimal fibrin deposition in a majority of the ruptured aneurysms. However, these findings also were observed in some unruptured aneurysms. In this report, 2 unruptured aneurysms exhibited subintimal fibrin, and interestingly, one of the patients experienced severe headache within 1 month before neuroimaging. OBJECTIVE: We performed pathologic analysis of unruptured aneurysms and collected their various clinical variables, including severe headache, to clarify the clinical characteristics of "dangerous" unruptured aneurysms. METHODS: This study included unruptured saccular aneurysm samples (n = 17) that were resected after clipping. We compared the differences in clinical variables, including warning headache, between aneurysms with and without fibrin deposition. RESULTS: Fibrin deposition was present in the subintimal layer in 4 patients and in the periouter membrane in 4 patients. Three of the 4 former patients experienced warning headaches, and one presented aneurysm growth. Of the latter 4 patients, one exhibited aneurysm growth, whereas the others presented with relatively large aneurysms. In the remaining 9 aneurysms without fibrin deposition, monocyte infiltration was observed in one, all aneurysms were small, and no patients experienced warning headaches or aneurysm growth. CONCLUSIONS: Subintimal fibrin deposition is observed frequently in patients with aneurysm with warning headaches. These pathologic findings are clinically inspiring and may suggest that these aneurysms exhibit rapid stretching by newly formed aneurysms, which can result in rupture at an early stage.

Surgical Outcome of Cerebral Aneurysm Clipping Treated with Immunosuppressants: Report of 11 Cases and Review of the Literature.

There are no reports on the outcomes of clippings in patients who receive immunosuppressants, for example, due to connective tissue diseases or following organ transplantation. We thoroughly reviewed these cases focusing on the perioperative management phase. The study included 11 patients with intracranial aneurysms who were taking immunosuppressants; between 2007 and 2014. We performed 12 clipping surgeries. Their clinical records were reviewed for age and gender, aneurysms' location and size, perioperative management of the immunosuppressive drugs, and surgical complications. The study included nine females and two males, aged between 52 and 71 years (mean 60.1 ± 8.5 years). The clinical presentation in five cases was subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH); the aneurysm was incidentally diagnosed in six patients (7 aneurysms). The reasons for taking immunosuppressants were autoimmune disorder in nine patients and liver transplantation in two patients. Daily intake of oral immunosuppressants for the patients with liver transplantation was discontinued for 2-4 days, and no infectious complications were evidenced. The weekly course of immunosuppressive drugs for the patients with autoimmune disorder was continued in eight of nine patients. Caution must be exercised when considering the suitability of clipping for patients taking immunosuppressants, but surgery outcomes are generally favorable; when operative treatment is required, we believe it to be comparatively safe, if the perioperative management is conducted in close collaboration with the relevant departments.

Treatment of Recurrent Intracranial Aneurysms After Clipping: A Report of 23 Cases and a Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE: There are no established treatment strategies for aneurysms that recur after clipping. In this study, we present cases of patients who experienced recurrent aneurysms after clipping and subsequently underwent surgical intervention. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2015, we surgically treated 23 aneurysms that recurred at a previously clipped site. Patient characteristics and clinical history were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Patients included 19 women and 4 men 45-81 years old. Aneurysms recurred 3-31 years (mean, 15.4 years) after the initial operation. For 18 cases, the first clinical presentation was a subarachnoid hemorrhage; aneurysms were incidentally diagnosed in 5 patients. Aneurysm locations were as follows: 9 on the internal carotid artery; 4 on the middle cerebral artery; 7 on the anterior communicating artery; 2 on the distal anterior cerebral artery; and 1 on the basilar artery. The reasons for retreatment included subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 9) and aneurysm regrowth detected on follow-up examinations (n = 14). Endovascular treatment was performed in 10 cases, and direct surgery was performed in 13 cases (clipping in 8, clipping or trapping with bypass in 5). Various complex vascular reconstructions, including high-flow bypass and intracranial-intracranial in situ bypass, were performed for recurrent aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, coil embolization is a safe and effective procedure for treating recurrent aneurysms. When cases are unsuitable for coil embolization, surgical treatment often requires neurosurgeons not only to overcome the general technical difficulty of reoperative clipping but also to perform challenging vascular reconstruction.

The Relationship between Carotid Stump Pressure and Changes in Motor-Evoked Potentials in Carotid Endarterectomy Patients.

Background The threshold of ischemic tolerance has not been completely identified in human clinical studies. Distal carotid artery pressure can be easily measured through the internal shunt tube during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). To confirm the critical threshold of intracranial arterial pressure and its maximum duration, we investigated the distal internal carotid artery (ICA) pressure and motor-evoked potential (MEP) changes during ICA clamping. Material and Methods Between September 2012 and March 2014, 9 patients (10 sides) with carotid stenosis (70-99%) were surgically treated at our hospital. All CEAs were performed under general anesthesia, and we routinely used a carotid shunt with the intraoperative MEP monitors. When the MEP amplitude decreased to < 50% of the control during carotid clamping, the MEP amplitude was defined as significantly reduced. Results The MEP amplitude significantly decreased in 2 of the 10 procedures (20%) during ICA clamping. The mean distal ICA pressure varied widely, ranging from 13 to 48 mm Hg. In seven cases with a mean distal ICA pressure > 20 mm Hg, there were no significant changes in the MEP during ICA clamping. However, there were three cases with a mean distal ICA pressure < 20 mm Hg, and the MEP amplitude significantly decreased in two of those three patients from 4 to 5 minutes after clamping. Conclusions The present study provides considerable information about a higher incidence of MEP amplitude deterioration in CEA patients with a mean distal ICA pressure < 20 mm Hg during ICA clamping.

[Efficacy of Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization for a Dissecting Aneurysm of the Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Caused by a Systemic Vascular Disease: A Case Report].

Systemic vascular diseases such as fibromuscular dysplasia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and Behçet's disease are known to cause spontaneous dissecting aneurysms of the cervical internal carotid artery. These diseases are generally associated with vascular fragility; therefore, invasive treatments are avoided in many cases of dissecting aneurysms, and a conservative approach is used for the primary disease. Surgical or intravascular treatment may be chosen when aneurysms are progressive or are associated with a high risk of hemorrhage; however, there is no consensus on which treatment is better. We report a case of a dissecting aneurysm of the cervical internal carotid artery in a patient with suspected Behçet's disease, which was treated using stent-assisted coil embolization. A man in his 40's, with suspected Behçet's disease, presented with an enlarged dissecting aneurysm of the right cervical internal carotid artery. The lesion was present for approximately 10 years. We performed stent-assisted coil embolization for the lesion. Post-surgery, no aneurysms were detected with carotid artery echography. Our case report suggests that stent-assisted coil embolization is a promising treatment for dissecting aneurysms of the cervical internal carotid artery. In addition, the procedure demonstrates the utility of carotid artery echograms for examining recanalization after stent-assisted coil embolization.

Association between intermittent low-back pain and superior cluneal nerve entrapment neuropathy.

OBJECT Superior cluneal nerve (SCN) entrapment neuropathy (SCNEN) is a cause of low-back pain (LBP) that can be misdiagnosed as a lumbar spine disorder. The clinical features and etiology of LBP remain poorly understood. In this study, 5 patients with intermittent LBP due to SCNEN who had previously received conservative treatment underwent surgery. The findings are reported and the etiology of LBP is discussed to determine whether it is attributable to SCNEN. METHODS Intermittent LBP is defined as a clinical condition in which pain is induced by standing or walking but is absent at rest. Between April 2012 and March 2013, 5 patients in this study who had intermittent LBP due to SCNEN underwent surgery. The patients included 3 men and 2 women, with a mean age of 66 years. The affected side was unilateral in 2 patients and bilateral in 3 (total sites, 8). The interval from symptom onset to treatment averaged 51.4 months; the mean postoperative follow-up period was 17.6 months. The clinical outcomes were assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS) for LBP, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) preoperatively and at the last follow-up; these data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS None of the 5 patients reported LBP at rest. Intermittent LBP involving the iliac crest and buttocks was induced by standing or walking an average of 136 m. In 2 patients with unilateral involvement, LBP was improved only by SCN block. Surgeries were performed on 6 sites in 5 patients because the SCN block was only transiently effective. Patients' SCNs penetrated the orifice of the thoracolumbar fascia. SCN kinking at the orifice was exacerbated at the lumbar-extension provocation posture, and radiating pain increased upon manual intraoperative compression of the SCN in this posture. After releasing the SCN surgically, disappearance of the pain was intraoperatively confirmed by manual compression of the SCN with the patients in the lumbar-extension posture. Surgery was effective in all 5 patients, and all clinical outcome scores indicated significant improvement (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of patients with intermittent LBP due to SCNEN. Clinical and surgical evidence presented suggests that their LBP was exacerbated by lumbar extension and that symptom relief was obtained by SCN block or surgical release of the SCN entrapment. These results suggest that SCNEN should be considered as a causal factor in patients for whom walking elicits LBP.

De novo arteriovenous malformation in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant systemic disorder characterized by the enlargement of capillaries, recurrent nosebleeds, and multiple arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Although cerebral AVMs are traditionally considered to be congenital lesions, some reports have described de novo AVMs, which suggests that the authors believed them to be dynamic conditions. In this article, the authors describe the case of a 5-year-old boy with HHT in whom a de novo cerebral AVM was detected after a negative MRI result at 5 months. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a de novo AVM in a patient with HHT. In patients with a family history of HHT, de novo AVMs are possible, even when no lesions are detected at the first screening. Therefore, regular screenings need to be performed, and the family should be informed that AVMs could still develop despite normal MRI results.

Surgical Outcomes for Cervical Carotid Artery Stenosis: Treatment Strategy for Bilateral Cervical Carotid Artery Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid stenting (CAS) are beneficial procedures for patients with high-grade cervical carotid stenosis. However, it is sometimes difficult to manage patients with bilateral carotid stenosis. To decide the treatment strategy, one of the most important questions is whether contralateral stenosis increases the risk of patients undergoing CEA. METHODS: This retrospective study included 201 patients with carotid stenosis who underwent a total of 219 consecutive procedures (CEA 189/CAS 30). We retrospectively analyzed outcomes in patients with carotid stenosis who were treated with either CEA or CAS and evaluated whether or not contralateral lesions increases the risk of patients undergoing CEA or CAS. Furthermore, we retrospectively verified our treatment strategy for bilateral carotid stenosis. RESULTS: The incidences of perioperative complications were 5.3% in the CEA patients and 6.7% in the CAS patients, respectively. There was no significant difference between these 2 groups. The existences of contralateral occlusion and/or contralateral stenosis were not associated with perioperative complications in both the groups. There were 32 patients with bilateral severe carotid stenosis (>50%). Of those, 13 patients underwent bilateral revascularizations; CEA followed by CEA in 8, CEA followed by CAS in 3, CAS followed by CEA + coronary artery bpass grafting in 1, and CAS followed by CAS in 1. CONCLUSIONS: Our date showed that the existence of contralateral carotid lesion was not associated with perioperative complications, and most of our cases with bilateral carotid stenosis initially underwent CEA.