Characterization of Maximum Wall Shear Stress Points in Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms Using Four-dimensional Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Maximum wall shear stress (maxWSS) points of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) may cause wall remodeling leading to rupture. We characterized maxWSS points and their inherent intra-aneurysmal flow structures in a sizable cohort of saccular UCAs using four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: After contrast administration, 50 saccular UCAs were subjected to 4D flow MRI using a 1.5 T MRI scanner. Post-processing of obtained data was performed using commercially available software. The maxWSS points and maxWSS values were evaluated. The maxWSS values were statistically compared between aneurysm groups. RESULTS: The maxWSS point was located on the aneurysm apex in 9 (18.0%), body in 2 (4.0%), and neck in 39 (78.0%) UCAs. The inherent intra-aneurysmal flow structure of the maxWSS point was an inflow zone in 34 (68.0%) UCAs, an inflow jet in 8 (16.0%), and an impingement zone in 8 (16.0%). The maxWSS point on the neck had significantly higher maxWSS values than those points on the other wall areas (P = 0.008). The maxWSS values of the maxWSS points on the apex and on the impingement zone were not significantly different compared with those of the other maxWSS points. CONCLUSION: The maxWSS points existed preferentially on the aneurysmal neck adjacent to the inflow zone with higher maxWSS values. The maxWSS points existed occasionally on the aneurysmal apex adjacent to the impingement zone. 4D flow MRI may be helpful to discriminate saccular UCAs with higher-risk maxWSS points that can cause wall remodeling leading to rupture.

Determination of Significant Three-Dimensional Hemodynamic Features for Postembolization Recanalization in Cerebral Aneurysms Through Explainable Artificial Intelligence.

BACKGROUND: Recanalization poses challenges after coil embolization in cerebral aneurysms. Establishing predictive models for postembolization recanalization is important for clinical decision making. However, conventional statistical and machine learning (ML) models may overlook critical parameters during the initial selection process. METHODS: In this study, we automated the identification of significant hemodynamic parameters using a PointNet-based deep neural network (DNN), leveraging their three-dimensional spatial features. Further feature analysis was conducted using saliency mapping, an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) technique. The study encompassed the analysis of velocity, pressure, and wall shear stress in both precoiling and postcoiling models derived from computational fluid dynamics simulations for 58 aneurysms. RESULTS: Velocity was identified as the most pivotal parameter, supported by the lowest P value from statistical analysis and the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curves/precision-recall curves values from the DNN model. Moreover, visual XAI analysis showed that robust injection flow zones, with notable impingement points in precoiling models, as well as pronounced interplay between flow dynamics and the coiling plane, were important three-dimensional features in identifying the recanalized aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of DNN and XAI was found to be an accurate and explainable approach not only at predicting postembolization recanalization but also at discovering unknown features in the future.

Minimum wall shear stress points and their underlying intra-aneurysmal flow structures of unruptured cerebral aneurysms on 4D flow MRI.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Minimum wall shear stress (Min-WSS) points may be associated with wall instability of unruptured cerebral aneurysms. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the locations of Min-WSS points and their underlying intra-aneurysmal flow structure patterns in unruptured cerebral aneurysms using four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Min-WSS points and the intra-aneurysmal flow structure patterns were identified in 50 unruptured aneurysms by 4D flow MRI. RESULTS: The Min-WSS points were located around a vortex core tip in 31 (62.0%) aneurysms and on an intra-bleb vortex center in 7 (14.0%). Sixteen (32.0%) aneurysms had the Min-WSS points on the aneurysmal apex, and in 24 (48.0%) were on the neck. The Min-WSS values of aneurysms with the Min-WSS points on an intra-bleb flow were significantly lower than those of the other groups (P = 0.030). Aneurysms with the Min-WSS points on the neck had significantly higher Min-WSS values than the other aneurysms (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The location of the Min-WSS point was corresponding to the vortex core or center in 76% of all aneurysms. The underlying intra-aneurysmal flow structure and location of the Min-WSS point affect the Min-WSS value. Further studies are needed to characterize Min-WSS points to identify aneurysms with a higher risk of wall instability.

Morphological factors affecting vortex core instability on 4D flow MRI of unruptured cerebral aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: The spatiotemporal instability of intra-aneurysmal vortex flow may be associated with unruptured cerebral aneurysm rupture. We identified morphological factors that affect intra-aneurysmal vortex core patterns classified based on the instability on four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and determined cutoff values for the factors to discriminate unstable core patterns. METHODS: We classified vortex core patterns of 40 unruptured aneurysms on 4D flow MRI into stable, stable with a flapping tip, continuously deforming wave-or-coil-like, and non-visualized. We statistically compared nine morphological parameters among aneurysm groups with individual patterns. RESULTS: The vortex cores were stable (n = 16) (group A), stable with a flapping tip (n = 15) (group B), wave-or-coil-like (n = 7) (group C), and non-visualized (n = 2) (group D). Since there were no statistically significant differences between groups A and B, we compared the difference between the groups A and B and the other groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses found that size ratio (SR) was an only independently significant parameter (p < 0.05). The receiver-operating characteristic analysis between groups A and B and group C and between groups A and B and groups C and D revealed that the area under the curve value for SR was the highest (0.829 [95% CI, 0.642-1.0]; 0.867 [95% CI, 0.715-1.0], respectively) among morphological factors; the cutoff value for SR was 1.72 (specificity 0.714, sensitivity 0.756; specificity 0.806, sensitivity 0.778, respectively). CONCLUSION: SR was an independent morphological factor contributing to vortex core instability based on the vortex core patterns on 4D flow MRI.Abbreviations: CFD: computational fluid dynamics; 3D: three-dimensional; 4D: four-dimensional; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; MRA: magnetic resonance angiography; ICA: internal carotid artery; AR: aspect ratio; SR: size ratio; CI: confidence interval; AUC: area under the curve; ROC: receiver-operating characteristic.

Hemodynamic factor evaluation using computational fluid dynamics analysis for de novo bleb formation in unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Although bleb formation increases the risk of rupture of intracranial aneurysms, previous computational fluid dynamic (CFD) studies have been unable to identify robust causative hemodynamic factors, due to the morphological differences of prebleb aneurysm models and a small number of aneurysms with de novo bleb formation. This study investigated the influences of differences in the aneurysm-models and identify causative hemodynamic factors for de novo bleb formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CFD analysis was conducted on three aneurysm models, actual prebleb, postbleb, and virtual prebleb models of two unruptured aneurysms with de novo bleb formation. A new multipoint method was introduced in this study. We evenly distributed points with a 0.5-mm distance on the aneurysm surface of the actual prebleb models (146 and 152 points in the individual aneurysm, respectively), and we statistically compared hemodynamics at the points in the areas with and without bleb formation (19 and 279 points, respectively). RESULTS: Visually, blebs formed on an aneurysm surface area with similar hemodynamic characteristics in the actual and virtual prebleb models. Statistical analysis using the multipoint method revealed that the de novo bleb formation area was significantly correlated with high pressure (p < 0.001), low wall shear stress (WSS) (p < 0.001), and the center of divergent WSS vectors (p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: De novo bleb formation in intracranial aneurysms may occur in areas associated with the combination of high pressure, low WSS, and the center of divergent WSS vectors. The multipoint method is useful for statistical analysis of hemodynamics in a limited number of aneurysms.

Inflow Hemodynamics of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Comparison of Computational Fluid Dynamics and 4D Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

PURPOSE: Although the inflow hemodynamics of cerebral aneurysms are key factors in their rupture and recurrence after endovascular treatments, the most available method for inflow hemodynamics evaluation remains unestablished. We compared the efficacy of inflow hemodynamics evaluation using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and that using four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: In 23 unruptured cerebral aneurysms, the inflow hemodynamics was evaluated using both CFD and 4D flow MRI. The evaluated parameters included visually classified inflow jet patterns, the inflow rate ratio (the ratio of the inflow rate at the aneurysmal orifice to the flow rate in the proximal parent artery), and the velocity ratio (the ratio of the inflow velocity to the velocity in the proximal parent artery). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the normality of variable data, and logarithmic transformation was performed for variables with non-normal distributions. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation analyses and the chi-square test. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between inflow jet patterns evaluated by CFD and 4D flow MRI (p = 0.008). Moreover, there was a strong correlation between the inflow rate ratios evaluated by CFD and 4D flow MRI (r = 0.801; p <0.001). Furthermore, there was a moderate correlation between the velocity ratios measured by CFD and 4D flow MRI (r = 0.559; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Inflow hemodynamics evaluated by CFD analysis and 4D flow MRI showed good correlations in inflow jet pattern, inflow rate ratio, and velocity ratio.

Effect of Neck Size on the Inflow Magnitude Evaluated on 4D Flow MRI in Unruptured Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: A neck size >4.0 mm is a risk factor for recanalization after coil embolization. The high inflow magnitude of pretreatment wide-neck aneurysms may be correlated to recanalization. We aimed to elucidate the effect of the neck size on the inflow magnitude evaluated on four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pretreatment unruptured internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. METHODS: Thirty-three untreated ICA aneurysms were subjected to 4D flow MRI to evaluate the inflow magnitude parameters including the maximum spatially-averaged inflow velocity (MSAIV), maximum inflow velocity, maximum inflow rate (MIR), and their ratios to each corresponding flow parameter in the parent artery. RESULTS: The neck size was linearly correlated to all inflow parameters investigated in this study. A strong correlation was observed between the neck size and the following: MSAIV (r = .755, p < .0001), MIR (r = .715, p < .0001), MSAIV ratio (r = .724, p < .0001), and MIR ratio (r = .741, p < .0001). The predicted value of MIR ratio of an aneurysm with the neck size of 4.0 mm was 23.0% and 20.6%, based on the linear regression equation of all aneurysms and on that of aneurysms with the neck size >4.0 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The neck size was linearly correlated with the inflow magnitude of unruptured ICA aneurysms. Inflow magnitude evaluation using 4D flow MRI may help to hemodynamically identify aneurysms with a high risk of recanalization after endovascular coil embolization.

High Pressure in Virtual Postcoiling Model is a Predictor of Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Recurrence After Coiling.

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic factors play a crucial role in the recurrence of intracranial aneurysms after coiling. However, the strongest factor for predicting recurrence remains unclear because each risk factor has been investigated and reported separately. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the strongest predictor of recurrence with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). METHODS: Using pretreatment patient-specific 3-dimensional rotational angiography data of 50 internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms (7 recanalized, 43 stable) treated with endovascular coiling, we created a precoiling model and a virtual postcoiling model produced by manually cutting the aneurysm by the flat plane corresponding to the virtual coil surface. We conducted CFD analysis to investigate inflow dynamics in the precoiling model and pressure difference and wall shear stress on the virtual coil surface. The pressure difference was calculated by subtracting average pressure at the proximal ICA from the maximum pressure at the coil surface and dividing by dynamic pressure at the proximal ICA for normalization. We compared hemodynamic parameters in both models between recanalized and stable aneurysms. RESULTS: Compared with stable aneurysms, recanalized aneurysms showed a significantly larger inflow area and higher inflow rate in the precoiling model (P = .016, .028), and higher pressure difference at the coil surface in the postcoiling model (P < .001). The receiver-operating characteristic analysis showed that the area under the curve value for the pressure difference (0.967) was superior to that of other evaluated parameters. CONCLUSION: The pressure difference in the virtual postcoiling model may be a strong predictor of recurrence after coiling.

Inflow hemodynamics evaluated by using four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging and the size ratio of unruptured cerebral aneurysms.

PURPOSE: Prediction of the rupture risk is critical for the identification of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) eligible for invasive treatments. The size ratio (SR) is a strong morphological predictor for rupture. We investigated the relationship between the inflow hemodynamics evaluated on four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and the SR to identify specific characteristics related to UCA rupture. METHODS: We evaluated the inflow jet patterns and inflow hemodynamic parameters of 70 UCAs on 4D flow MR imaging and compared them among 23 aneurysms with an SR ≧2.1 and 47 aneurysms with an SR ≦2.0. Based on the shape of inflow streamline bundles with a velocity ≧75% of the maximum flow velocity in the parent artery, the inflow jet patterns were classified as concentrated (C), diffuse (D), neck-limited (N), and unvisualized (U). RESULTS: The incidence of patterns C and N was significantly higher in aneurysms with an SR ≧2.1. The rate of pattern U was significantly higher in aneurysms with an SR ≦2.0. The maximum inflow rate and the inflow rate ratio were significantly higher in aneurysms with an SR ≧2.1. CONCLUSIONS: The SR affected the inflow jet pattern, the maximum inflow rate, and the inflow rate ratio of UCAs. In conjunction with the SR, inflow hemodynamic analysis using 4D flow MR imaging may contribute to the risk stratification for aneurysmal rupture.

Shunt nephritis with positive titers for ANCA specific for proteinase 3.

The authors report a case of shunt nephritis with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA) and review 2 similar cases. A 55-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for continuous fever and foot edema in 2002. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was implanted because of a brain abscess and subsequent hydrocephalus in 1987; it was changed to a ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt in 1995. Urinary analysis showed proteinuria (5.4 g/d) and microscopic hematuria. Laboratory data showed renal dysfunction and hypocomplementemia. ANCA specific for proteinase 3 (PR3-ANCA) was positive in his serum, and blood culture grew Propionibacterium acnes. Renal biopsy results showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I. Therefore, the VA shunt was replaced, and antibiotics were administered. Oral prednisolone was initiated at a dose of 50 mg/d. Proteinuria and the serum levels of creatinine were improved concomitant with normalization of the serum complement levels and the decrease in serum PR3-ANCA titer. Similarly, another 2 cases reported in the literature of PR3-ANCA-positive shunt nephritis caused by P acnes and Gemella morbillorum showed good outcomes after removal of the shunt and administration of antibiotics with or without steroid therapy.

Simulation of clipping position for cerebral aneurysms using three-dimensional computed tomography angiography.

A novel method for the simulation of the clipping position for cerebral aneurysms based on three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) angiography was evaluated. Rotating the regional 3D CT angiography images including the aneurysm provided the virtual intraoperative views of 36 cerebral aneurysms that were eligible for clipping through a pterional approach with a perpendicularly applied straight clip. The cut-along-trace function of the 3D CT workstation was used to simulate the clipping position. The presence or absence of aneurysm remnants was preoperatively evaluated by observing the clipping simulation image. Intraoperative endoscopy and postoperative cerebral angiography were routinely performed to confirm the completeness of obliterations. Nineteen of 21 aneurysms for which complete obliteration was preoperatively expected were confirmed to have no aneurysm remnant. Nine of 15 aneurysms which were expected to have aneurysm remnant were confirmed to persist. The clipping simulation images could correctly predict aneurysm remnant after the initial clipping with a sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 60%. The present simulation method can predict aneurysm remnants and improve the likelihood of complete obliteration by clipping.