The predictive value of the CTA Vasospasm Score on delayed cerebral ischaemia and functional outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Delayed cerebral ischaemia (DCI) is a severe complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage that can significantly impact clinical outcome. Cerebral vasospasm is part of the pathophysiology of DCI and therefore a computed tomography angiography (CTA) Vasospasm Score was developed and an exploration was carried out of whether this score predicts DCI and subsequent poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS: The CTA Vasospasm Score sums the degree of angiographic cerebral vasospasm of 17 intradural arterial segments. The score ranges from 0 to 34 with a higher score reflecting more severe vasospasm. Outcome measures were cerebral infarction due to DCI (CI-DCI), radiological and clinical DCI, and unfavorable functional outcome defined as a modified Rankin Scale >2 at 6 months. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to assess predictive value and to determine optimal cut-off scores. Inter-rater reliability was evaluated by Cohen's kappa coefficient. RESULTS: This study included 59 patients. CI-DCI occurred in eight patients (14%), DCI in 14 patients (24%) and unfavorable outcome in 12 patients (20%). Median CTA Vasospasm Scores were higher in patients with (CI-)DCI and poor outcome. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed the highest area under the curve on day 5: CI-DCI 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-0.99), DCI 0.68 (95% CI 0.50-0.87) and functional outcome 0.74 (95% CI 0.57-0.91). Cohen's kappa between the two raters was moderate to substantial (0.57-0.63). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the CTA Vasospasm Score on day 5 can reliably identify patients with a high risk of developing (CI-)DCI and unfavorable outcome.

Endovascular Treatment With or Without Prior Intravenous Alteplase for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background It is unclear whether intravenous thrombolysis ( IVT ) with alteplase before endovascular treatment ( EVT ) is beneficial for patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion. We compared clinical and procedural outcomes, safety, and workflow between patients treated with both IVT and EVT and those treated with EVT alone in routine clinical practice. Methods and Results Using multivariable regression, we evaluated the association of IVT + EVT with 90-day functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale), mortality, reperfusion, first-pass effect, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in the MR CLEAN (Multicenter Randomised Controlled Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in The Netherlands) Registry. Of 1485 patients, 1161 (78%) were treated with IVT + EVT , and 324 (22%) with EVT alone. Patients treated with IVT + EVT had atrial fibrillation less often (16% versus 44%) and had better pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale scores (pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale 0: 73% versus 52%) than those treated with EVT alone. Procedure time was shorter in the IVT + EVT group (median 62 versus 68 minutes). Nontransferred IVT + EVT patients had longer door-to-groin-puncture times (median 105 versus 94 minutes). IVT + EVT was associated with better functional outcome (adjusted common odds ratio 1.47; 95% CI : 1.10-1.96) and lower mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.58; 95% CI : 0.40-0.82). Successful reperfusion, first-pass effect, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage did not differ between groups. Conclusions In this observational study, patients treated with IVT + EVT had better clinical outcomes than patients who received EVT alone. This finding may demonstrate a true benefit of IVT before EVT , but its interpretation is hampered by the possibility of residual confounding and selection bias. Randomized trials are required to properly assess the effect of IVT before EVT .

Transcranial Doppler Versus CT-Angiography for Detection of Cerebral Vasospasm in Relation to Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Prospective Single-Center Cohort Study: The Transcranial doppler and CT-angiography for Investigating Cerebral vasospasm in Subarachnoid hemorrhage (TACTICS) study.

Cerebral vasospasm in the first 2 weeks after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is recognized as a major predictor of delayed cerebral ischemia. The routine screening for cerebral vasospasm with either transcranial Doppler or CT angiography has been advocated, although its diagnostic value has not yet been determined. Our study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of detecting vasospasm by transcranial Doppler and CT angiography for the prediction of delayed cerebral ischemia and functional outcome. Additionally, agreement between transcranial Doppler and CT angiography was determined. DESIGN: Prospective diagnostic accuracy study. SETTINGS: Neurocritical care unit and neurosurgical ward at a tertiary academic medical center. PATIENTS: Between 2013 and 2016, 59 consenting patients were included. INTERVENTION: Patients undergo both transcranial Doppler and CT angiography for detection of cerebral vasospasm on days 5 and 10 after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Delayed cerebral ischemia was defined as secondary neurologic deterioration, not explained otherwise. Unfavorable outcome was defined modified Rankin Scale > 2 at 6 months. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: On transcranial Doppler, cerebral vasospasm was observed in 26 patients (45%). On CT angiography, vasospasm was observed in 54 patients (95%). The agreement between transcranial Doppler and CT angiography was 0.47. Delayed cerebral ischemia occurred in 16 patients (27%); unfavorable outcome in 12 patients (20%). Transcranial Doppler predicted delayed cerebral ischemia with a sensitivity of 0.44 (day 5) and 0.50 (day 10), with a specificity of 0.67 (day 5) and 0.57 (day 10). CT angiography predicted delayed cerebral ischemia with a sensitivity of 0.81 (day 5 and 10) and with a specificity of 0.070 (day 5) and 0.00 (day 10). The highest accuracy for predicting unfavorable outcome was on day 5 (0.61 for transcranial Doppler vs 0.27 for CT angiography). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of both CT angiography and transcranial Doppler for detection of cerebral vasospasm as well as prediction of delayed cerebral ischemia and functional outcome is limited. The agreement between CT angiography and transcranial Doppler is low.

Prediction of outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage: timing of clinical assessment.

OBJECTIVE Currently, early prediction of outcome after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) lacks accuracy despite multiple studies addressing this issue. The clinical condition of the patient on admission as assessed using the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grading scale is currently considered the gold standard. However, the timing of the clinical assessment is subject to debate, as is the contribution of additional predictors. The aim of this study was to identify either the conventional WFNS grade on admission or the WFNS grade after neurological resuscitation (rWFNS) as the most accurate predictor of outcome after SAH. METHODS This prospective observational cohort study included 1620 consecutive patients with SAH admitted between January 1998 and December 2014 at our university neurovascular center. The primary outcome measure was a poor modified Rankin Scale score at the 2-month follow-up. Clinical predictors were identified using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis was used to test discriminative performance of the final model. An AUC of > 0.8 was regarded as indicative of a model with good prognostic value. RESULTS Poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale Score 4-6) was observed in 25% of the patients. The rWFNS grade was a significantly stronger predictor of outcome than the admission WFNS grade. The rWFNS grade was significantly associated with poor outcome (p < 0.001) as well as increasing age (p < 0.001), higher modified Fisher grade (p < 0.001), larger aneurysm size (p < 0.001), and the presence of an intracerebral hematoma (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.8; p = 0.002). The final model had an AUC of 0.87 (95% CI 0.85-0.89), which indicates excellent prognostic value regarding the discrimination between poor and good outcome after SAH. CONCLUSIONS In clinical practice and future research, neurological assessment and grading of patients should be performed using the rWFNS to obtain the best representation of their clinical condition.

Safety and Outcome of Intra-Arterial Treatment for Basilar Artery Occlusion.

IMPORTANCE: After the many positive results in thrombectomy trials in ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation, the question arises whether these positive results also apply to the patient with basilar artery occlusion (BAO). OBJECTIVE: To report up-to-date outcome data of intra-arterial (IA) treatment in patients with BAO and to evaluate the influence of collateral circulation on outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Single-center retrospective case series of 38 consecutive patients with BAO who underwent IA treatment between 2006 and 2015 at a comprehensive stroke center. EXPOSURES: Intra-arterial treatment by mechanical thrombectomy and/or IA thrombolysis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Adequate recanalization was defined as a score of 2b or 3 on the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score. Favorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 3 at first follow-up. Imaging data on the patency of the vertebral arteries and posterior communicating arteries, as well as the presence of cerebellar arterial anastomosis, were recorded and posttreatment imaging results were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients with BAO, mean (SD) age was 58 (16) years, and 21 (55%) were male. Twenty-seven patients (71%) were treated with intravenous thrombolysis before IA therapy. Mechanical thrombectomy was applied to 30 patients, and 7 patients received local urokinase without thrombectomy. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 21 (interquartile range [IQR], 15-32) points, and median time to IA treatment was 288 (IQR, 216-380) minutes. Adequate recanalization was achieved in 34 of 38 cases (89%). Functional outcome was favorable in 19 (50%) patients. No association between patent collateral circulation and favorable outcome was found. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 2 patients (5%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The proportion of patients reaching a favorable outcome in our study is comparable to the IA-treated group of the MR CLEAN trial and better than the results reported in the BASICS registry, suggesting that IA intervention in patients with BAO is an effective and safe treatment modality in daily clinical practice.

Time to Reperfusion and Treatment Effect for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Intra-arterial treatment (IAT) for acute ischemic stroke caused by intracranial arterial occlusion leads to improved functional outcome in patients treated within 6 hours after onset. The influence of treatment delay on treatment effect is not yet known. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of time from stroke onset to the start of treatment and from stroke onset to reperfusion on the effect of IAT. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands (MR CLEAN) was a multicenter, randomized clinical open-label trial of IAT vs no IAT in 500 patients. The time to the start of treatment was defined as the time from onset of symptoms to groin puncture (TOG). The time from onset of treatment to reperfusion (TOR) was defined as the time to reopening the vessel occlusion or the end of the procedure in cases for which reperfusion was not achieved. Data were collected from December 3, 2010, to June 3, 2014, and analyzed (intention to treat) from July 1, 2014, to September 19, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Main outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score for functional outcome (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]). Multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis estimated the effect of treatment and tested for the interaction of time to randomization, TOG, and TOR with treatment. The effect of treatment as a risk difference on reaching independence (mRS score, 0-2) was computed as a function of TOG and TOR. Calculations were adjusted for age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, previous stroke, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and intracranial arterial terminus occlusion. RESULTS: Among 500 patients (58% male; median age, 67 years), the median TOG was 260 (interquartile range [IQR], 210-311) minutes; median TOR, 340 (IQR, 274-395) minutes. An interaction between TOR and treatment (P = .04) existed, but not between TOG and treatment (P = .26). The adjusted risk difference (95% CI) was 25.9% (8.3%-44.4%) when reperfusion was reached at 3 hours, 18.8% (6.6%-32.6%) at 4 hours, and 6.7% (0.4%-14.5%) at 6 hours. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: For every hour of reperfusion delay, the initially large benefit of IAT decreases; the absolute risk difference for a good outcome is reduced by 6% per hour of delay. Patients with acute ischemic stroke require immediate diagnostic workup and IAT in case of intracranial arterial vessel occlusion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: trialregister.nl Identifier: NTR1804.

Recurrence Rates After Surgical or Endovascular Treatment of Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing tendency to treat spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVFs) endovascularly despite the lack of clear evidence favoring embolization over surgery. OBJECTIVE: To compare the initial failure and recurrence rates of primary treatment of SDAVFs by surgery and endovascular techniques. METHODS: A meta-analysis using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) standard was performed. All the English literature from 2004 onward was evaluated. From each article that compared the 2 treatment modalities, the odds ratio (OR) was calculated. Combined ORs were calculated with Review Manager 5.3 of The Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: A total of 35 studies harboring 1112 patients were assessed. Initial definitive fistula occlusion was observed in 588 of 609 surgical patients (96.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 94.8-97.8) vs 363 of 503 endovascularly treated patients (72.2%; 95% CI, 68.1-75.9; P < .001). The combined OR from 18 studies that assessed both treatment modalities (730 patients) was 6.15 (95% CI, 3.45-11.0) in favor of surgical treatment. Late recurrence (13 studies, 480 patients) revealed an OR of 3.15 (95% CI, 1.66-5.96; P < .001) in favor of surgery. In a subgroup, recurrence was reported in 10 of 22 patients (45%) treated with Onyx vs 8 of 35 (23%) treated with n-butyle-2-cyanoacrylate (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 0.75-8.37; P = .13). CONCLUSION: Although hampered by inclusion of poor quality studies, this meta-analysis shows a definite advantage of primary surgical treatment of SDAVF over endovascular treatment in initial failure rate and late recurrences. The often-used argument that endovascular techniques have improved and therefore outweigh surgery is not supported by this meta-analysis.

Clinical features and prognosis of intracranial artery dissection.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial artery dissections (IADs) are an important cause of stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Outcome of IAD in the anterior circulation or presentation without SAH is rarely investigated and might be different. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of patients with IAD, with special emphasis on the location (anterior vs posterior circulation) and clinical presentation (SAH or cerebral ischemia). METHODS: Between January 1998 and May 2012, 60 patients with IAD were included in this single-center cohort study. Clinical features, functional outcome, mortality, and prognostic factors were evaluated. Unfavorable functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score of 3 to 6. RESULTS: In 18 patients (30%), IAD was located in the anterior circulation. At a median follow-up of 6.4 months, 35.3% of patients with IAD in the anterior circulation had an unfavorable functional outcome vs 39.0% in patients with IAD in the posterior circulation (P = .79). Forty-two patients (70%) presented with SAH. Clinical presentation with SAH was not significantly associated with poor functional outcome (41.5% vs 29.4%, P = .39). Low Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission (odds ratio, 0.72, P = .003) and older age (odds ratio, 1.04, P = .04) were independent predictors of unfavorable functional outcome. Mortality rate was 13% and did not significantly differ with location or clinical presentation. CONCLUSION: Low Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission and older age were independent predictors of unfavorable functional outcome. IAD presenting with SAH was not significantly associated with poor functional outcome.

Survival prediction model of children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma based on clinical and radiological criteria.

BACKGROUND: Although diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) carries the worst prognosis of all pediatric brain tumors, studies on prognostic factors in DIPG are sparse. To control for confounding variables in DIPG studies, which generally include relatively small patient numbers, a survival prediction tool is needed. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed in the Netherlands, the UK, and Germany with central review of clinical data and MRI scans of children with DIPG. Cox proportional hazards with backward regression was used to select prognostic variables (P < .05) to predict the accumulated 12-month risk of death. These predictors were transformed into a practical risk score. The model's performance was validated by bootstrapping techniques. RESULTS: A total of 316 patients were included. The median overall survival was 10 months. Multivariate Cox analysis yielded 5 prognostic variables of which the coefficients were included in the risk score. Age ≤3 years, longer symptom duration at diagnosis, and use of oral and intravenous chemotherapy were favorable predictors, while ring enhancement on MRI at diagnosis was an unfavorable predictor. With increasing risk score categories, overall survival decreased significantly. The model can distinguish between patients with very short, average, and increased overall survival (medians of 7.0, 9.7, and 13.7 mo, respectively). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.68. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a DIPG survival prediction tool that can be used to predict the outcome of patients and for stratification in trials. Validation of the model is needed in a prospective cohort.

A randomized trial of intraarterial treatment for acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by a proximal intracranial arterial occlusion, intraarterial treatment is highly effective for emergency revascularization. However, proof of a beneficial effect on functional outcome is lacking. METHODS: We randomly assigned eligible patients to either intraarterial treatment plus usual care or usual care alone. Eligible patients had a proximal arterial occlusion in the anterior cerebral circulation that was confirmed on vessel imaging and that could be treated intraarterially within 6 hours after symptom onset. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin scale score at 90 days; this categorical scale measures functional outcome, with scores ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (death). The treatment effect was estimated with ordinal logistic regression as a common odds ratio, adjusted for prespecified prognostic factors. The adjusted common odds ratio measured the likelihood that intraarterial treatment would lead to lower modified Rankin scores, as compared with usual care alone (shift analysis). RESULTS: We enrolled 500 patients at 16 medical centers in The Netherlands (233 assigned to intraarterial treatment and 267 to usual care alone). The mean age was 65 years (range, 23 to 96), and 445 patients (89.0%) were treated with intravenous alteplase before randomization. Retrievable stents were used in 190 of the 233 patients (81.5%) assigned to intraarterial treatment. The adjusted common odds ratio was 1.67 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21 to 2.30). There was an absolute difference of 13.5 percentage points (95% CI, 5.9 to 21.2) in the rate of functional independence (modified Rankin score, 0 to 2) in favor of the intervention (32.6% vs. 19.1%). There were no significant differences in mortality or the occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by a proximal intracranial occlusion of the anterior circulation, intraarterial treatment administered within 6 hours after stroke onset was effective and safe. (Funded by the Dutch Heart Foundation and others; MR CLEAN Netherlands Trial Registry number, NTR1804, and Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN10888758.).

[Epistaxis following skull trauma]. / Epistaxis na een schedeltrauma.

BACKGROUND: Epistaxis is a common problem, which is usually benign in nature. In some cases, however, epistaxis is a symptom of a severe underlying condition. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 20-year-old male was treated conservatively following head injury with craniofacial and base-of-skull fractures. Recurrent episodes of epistaxis occurred some weeks after treatment. Further investigation showed an extradural dissecting aneurysm of the left internal carotid artery (ICA), projecting into the sphenoid sinus. The aneurysm was treated endovascularly by placing a coil in the aneurism and a stent in the artery. On the basis of this case study we describe the diagnostics and treatment of patients with posttraumatic posterior epistaxis. CONCLUSION: In cases if delayed epistaxis following head injury the physician should be alert for the possibility of trauma to the ICA. This is a potentially life-threatening situation that requires prompt treatment.

Appreciation of CT-negative, lumbar puncture-positive subarachnoid haemorrhage: risk factors for presence of aneurysms and diagnostic yield of imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Patients without a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) on brain CT scan (CT-negative), but a lumbar puncture (LP)-proven SAH, are a challenging patient category. The optimal diagnostic approach is still a matter of debate. Also, there is little knowledge on the probability of finding an underlying vascular lesion. DESIGN: In this observational study, a consecutive cohort of 94 patients with CT-negative, LP-positive SAH was prospectively collected between 1998 and 2013. The yield of diagnostic modalities as well as patient outcome was studied. In addition, risk factors for the presence of a vascular lesion were analysed. RESULTS: In 40 patients (43%), an intracranial vascular abnormality was detected: 37 aneurysms and three arterial dissections. Female gender was significantly associated with detection of a vascular lesion. Time between ictus and diagnosis of SAH was not associated with the presence of vascular pathology. Overall, 99% of patients had a modified Rankin Score of 0-2 after a median follow-up of 72 months. The yield of additional digital subtraction angiography in patients with a negative CT angiography was zero. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the chance of finding a vascular lesion in a patient with CT-negative, LP-positive SAH was 43%, underlining the need for an adequate diagnostic workup. In general, the patient outcome was favourable. Female gender was found to be predictive for detecting a vascular lesion. In contrast with previous reports, the interval between ictus and LP was not associated with the presence of an aneurysm.

Repeat digital subtraction angiography after a negative baseline assessment in nonperimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage: a pooled data meta-analysis.

OBJECT: A repeat digital subtraction angiography (DSA) study of the cranial vasculature is routinely performed in patients with diffuse nonperimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) after negative baseline CT angiography (CTA) and DSA studies. However, DSA carries a low but substantial risk of neurological complications. Therefore, the authors evaluated the added value of repeat DSA in patients with initial angiographically negative diffuse nonperimesencephalic SAH. METHODS: A systematic review of the contemporary literature was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. Studies from January 2000 onward were reviewed since imaging modalities have much improved over the last decade. A pooled analysis was conducted to identify the detection rate of repeat DSA. In addition, the diagnostic yield of repeat DSAs in a prospectively maintained single-center series of 1051 consecutive patients with SAH was added to the analysis. RESULTS: An initial search of the literature yielded 179 studies, 8 of which met the selection criteria. Another 45 patients from the authors' institution were included in the study, providing 368 patients eligible for the pooled analysis. In 37 patients (10.0%, 95% CI 7.4%-13.6%) an aneurysm was detected on repeat DSA. The timing of the repeat DSA varied from 1 to 6 weeks after the initial DSA. The use of 3D techniques was poorly described among these studies, and no direct comparisons between CTA and DSA were made. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat DSA is still warranted in patients with a diffuse nonperimesencephalic SAH and negative initial assessment. However, the exact timing of the repeat DSA is subject to debate.

Coil-treated aneurysms: decision making regarding additional treatment based on findings of MR angiography and intraarterial DSA.

PURPOSE: To assess whether magnetic resonance (MR) angiography can be used as a noninvasive alternative to intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) to indicate additional treatment in the follow-up of patients with coil-treated intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an ethics committee-approved multicenter study. Consecutive patients who were scheduled for follow-up intraarterial DSA after coil placement were invited for additional MR angiography after providing written informed consent. Interventional neuroradiologists gave treatment advice (additional treatment, extended follow-up imaging, or discharge from follow-up) for each imaging modality. Agreement between treatment advices based on intraarterial DSA and MR angiographic findings and interobserver agreement were assessed with weighted κ statistics. RESULTS: Agreement between intraarterial DSA- and MR angiography-based treatment recommendations was substantial (κ = 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66, 0.80). In 34 of the 310 patients (11%), the advice was additional treatment based on findings of both modalities. In six patients (2%), the advice based on intraarterial DSA findings was additional treatment, while that based on MR angiographic findings was extended follow-up imaging; therefore, none of these patients were discharged from follow-up on the basis of MR angiographic findings. In six other patients (2%), the advice based on MR angiographic findings was additional treatment, while that based on intraarterial DSA findings was extended follow-up imaging (four patients), discharge from follow-up (one patient), and noninterpretable DSA (one patient). Extended follow-up imaging was suggested for 37 patients (12%) after intraarterial DSA and for 49 patients (16%) after MR angiography (difference: 4%; 95% CI: -0.6%, 8.4%). Interobserver agreement was substantial for intraarterial DSA (κ = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.82) and moderate for MR angiography (κ = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.70). CONCLUSION: The overall proportion of patients advised to undergo additional treatment is similar based on intraarterial DSA and MR angiographic findings, with only few individual discrepancies. MR angiography can therefore be used for therapeutic decision making in the follow-up of patients with coil-treated aneurysms. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: http://radiology.rsna.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1148/radiol.12112608/-/DC1.

Intracranial aneurysms treated with coil placement: test characteristics of follow-up MR angiography--multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To determine the test characteristics of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography in the assessment of occlusion of aneurysms treated with coil placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an ethics committee-approved multicenter study. written informed consent was obtained in 311 patients with 343 aneurysms, who had been treated with coil placement and were scheduled for routine follow-up with intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Thirty-five patients participated two or three times. Either 3.0- or 1.5-T time-of-flight (TOF) and contrast material-enhanced MR angiography were performed in addition to intraarterial DSA. Aneurysm occlusion was evaluated by independent readers at DSA and MR angiography. The test characteristics of MR angiography were assessed by using DSA as the standard. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated for 3.0- versus 1.5-T MR angiography and for TOF versus contrast-enhanced MR angiography, and factors associated with discrepancies between MR angiography and DSA were assessed with logistic regression. RESULTS: Aneurysm assessments (n = 381) at DSA and MR angiography were compared. Incomplete occlusion was seen at DSA in 88 aneurysms (23%). Negative predictive value of MR angiography was 94% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 91%, 97%), positive predictive value was 69% (95% CI: 60%, 78%), sensitivity was 82% (95% CI: 72%, 89%), and specificity was 89% (95% CI: 85%, 93%). AUCs were similar for 3.0- (0.90 [95% CI: 0.86, 0.94]) and 1.5-T MR (0.87 [95% CI: 0.78, 0.95]) and for TOF MR (0.86 [95% CI: 0.81, 0.91]) versus contrast-enhanced MR (0.85 [95% CI: 0.80, 0.91]). A small residual lumen (odds ratio, 2.1 [95% CI: 1.1, 4.3]) and suboptimal projection at DSA (odds ratio, 5.5 [95% CI: 1.5, 21.0]) were independently associated with discordance between intraarterial DSA and MR angiography. CONCLUSION: Documentation of good diagnostic performance of TOF MR angiography at both 1.5 and 3.0 T in the current study represents an important step toward replacing intraarterial DSA with MR angiography in the follow-up of patients with aneurysms treated with coils.

Feasibility of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) follow-up as the primary imaging modality after coiling of intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is still regarded as the gold standard for detecting residual flow in treated aneurysms. Recent reports have also shown excellent results from magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) imaging. This is an important observation, since DSA is associated with a risk of medical complications, is time consuming, and is more expensive. PURPOSE: To determine whether MRA could replace conventional DSA and serve as the primary postinterventional imaging modality in patients with coiled intracranial aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied a prospectively enrolled cohort of 190 patients treated endovascularly for a first-ruptured and/or unruptured intracranial aneurysm between January 2004 and December 2008. The imaging protocol included a 1.5T time-of-flight (TOF) MRA and a DSA at 3 months (on the same day) and, depending on comparability, a 1.5T TOF-MRA or DSA 1 year after treatment. All images were evaluated by a multidisciplinary panel. RESULTS: In 141/190 patients, both an MRA and DSA were performed after 3-month follow-up. In 2/141 patients (1.4%), (small) neck remnants gave false-negative MRA results. In one patient (0.7%), this led to additional neurosurgical clipping of the aneurysm. In 25/141 patients, future follow-up (>3 months) consisted of DSA because of various reasons. In 24/25 of these patients, primary MRA images alone would invariably have led to additional DSA imaging. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that 1.5T TOF-MRA is a feasible primary follow-up modality after coiling of intracranial aneurysms. Given our data, we now suggest that, in every patient with a coiled intracranial aneurysm, the first follow-up, 3 months after coiling, should be an MRA study. Only when this MRA is inconclusive (e.g., because of coil artifacts), or in the case of suspicion of recanalization, should DSA be performed additionally.