Artificial Intelligence Trained by Deep Learning Can Improve Computed Tomography Diagnosis of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage by Nonspecialists.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious cerebrovascular disease with a high mortality rate and is known as a disease that is hard to diagnose because it may be overlooked by noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) examinations that are most frequently used for diagnosis. To create a system preventing this oversight of SAH, we trained artificial intelligence (AI) with NCCT images obtained from 419 patients with nontraumatic SAH and 338 healthy subjects and created an AI system capable of diagnosing the presence and location of SAH. Then, we conducted experiments in which five neurosurgery specialists, five nonspecialists, and the AI system interpreted NCCT images obtained from 135 patients with SAH and 196 normal subjects. The AI system was capable of performing a diagnosis of SAH with equal accuracy to that of five neurosurgery specialists, and the accuracy was higher than that of nonspecialists. Furthermore, the diagnostic accuracy of four out of five nonspecialists improved by interpreting NCCT images using the diagnostic results of the AI system as a reference, and the number of oversight cases was significantly reduced by the support of the AI system. This is the first report demonstrating that an AI system improved the diagnostic accuracy of SAH by nonspecialists.

Impact of a learning health system on acute care and medical complications after intracerebral hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with stroke often experience pneumonia during the acute stage after stroke onset. Oral care may be effective in reducing the risk of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP). We aimed to determine the changes in oral care, as well as the incidence of SAP, in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, following implementation of a learning health system in our hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 1716 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who were hospitalized at a single stroke center in Japan between January 2012 and December 2018. Data were stratified on the basis of three periods of evolving oral care: period A, during which conventional, empirically driven oral care was provided (n = 725); period B, during which standardized oral care was introduced, with SAP prophylaxis based on known risk factors (n = 469); and period C, during which oral care was risk-appropriate based on learning health system data (n = 522). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations between each of the three treatment approaches and the risk of SAP. RESULTS: Among the included patients, the mean age was 71.3 ± 13.6 years; 52.6% of patients were men. During the course of each period, the frequency of oral care within 24 hours of admission increased (P < .001), as did the adherence rate to oral care ≥3 times per day (P < .001). After adjustment for confounding factors, a change in the risk of SAP was not observed in period B; however, the risk significantly decreased in period C (odds ratio 0.61; 95% confidence interval 0.43-0.87) compared with period A. These associations were maintained for SAP diagnosed using strict clinical criteria or after exclusion of 174 patients who underwent neurosurgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Risk-appropriate care informed by the use of learning health system data could improve care and potentially reduce the risk of SAP in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in the acute stage.

Development of Quality Indicators of Stroke Centers and Feasibility of Their Measurement Using a Nationwide Insurance Claims Database in Japan　­ J-ASPECT Study ­

BACKGROUND: We aimed to develop quality indicators (QIs) related to primary and comprehensive stroke care and examine the feasibility of their measurement using the existing Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) database. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a systematic review of domestic and international studies using the modified Delphi method. Feasibility of measuring the QI adherence rates was examined using a DPC-based nationwide stroke database (396,350 patients admitted during 2013-2015 to 558 hospitals participating in the J-ASPECT study). Associations between adherence rates of these QIs and hospital characteristics were analyzed using hierarchical logistic regression analysis. We developed 17 and 12 measures as QIs for primary and comprehensive stroke care, respectively. We found that measurement of the adherence rates of the developed QIs using the existing DPC database was feasible for the 6 QIs (primary stroke care: early and discharge antithrombotic drugs, mean 54.6% and 58.7%; discharge anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation, 64.4%; discharge antihypertensive agents, 51.7%; comprehensive stroke care: fasudil hydrochloride or ozagrel sodium for vasospasm prevention, 86.9%; death complications of diagnostic neuroangiography, 0.4%). We found wide inter-hospital variation in QI adherence rates based on hospital characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: We developed QIs for primary and comprehensive stroke care. The DPC database may allow efficient data collection at low cost and decreased burden to evaluate the developed QIs.

Clipping on Crossed Wrapping Method for Ruptured Blood Blister-Like Aneurysm of the Internal Carotid Artery: Technical Note and Long-Term Results.

BACKGROUND: We have been performing the clipping on crossed wrapping (COCW) method using 2 strips of cotton on patients with an internal carotid artery blood blister-like aneurysm (IC-BLA). This method is reliable in preventing the clips from slipping off and the aneurysm walls from being damaged during clipping, and it enables more appropriate and safer clipping. Here we report the technical details of this method and the long-term outcomes of patients receiving this procedure. METHODS: Fifteen of 1275 (1.5%) patients with a ruptured cerebral aneurysm who received treatment at the Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital during the period from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2016, had an IC-BLA. All 15 patients were treated with COCW, except for the first patient, who was treated using a single strip of cotton. The long-term outcome of the treatment was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 74 months. The first patient experienced rerupture of an aneurysm 10 days after the operation. No complications or regrowth of an aneurysm were observed in the remaining 14 patients during the follow-up period, except for 1 patient who received a reoperation for the regrowth of an aneurysm. As the final outcome, the numbers of patients with a Modified Rankin Score of 0, 3, and 6 were 13, 1, and 1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that COCW is a treatment that enables safe and long-term management of lesions in IC-BLAs.

Multiple Cerebral Aneurysms Associated With Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a rare disease with an incidence of approximately one in every 3000 births. NF1 is mainly recognized as a tumor suppressor. Vasculopathy in NF1 is well described in the literature, but the association between NF1 and cerebral aneurysm has not been determined. We report a case of a 67-year-old female with NF1 accompanied by 8 cerebral aneurysms. Two of the patient's unruptured aneurysms, the large distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysm and anterior communicating artery aneurysm, were initially treated with microsurgical clipping. The peripheral ACA aneurysm gradually increased in size and ruptured after 5 years. Coil embolization was performed for the ruptured aneurysm. Four of the 5 remaining unruptured aneurysms were treated surgically. The patient is currently well, without neurological deficit, and coil embolization is scheduled for the last remaining aneurysm. NF1 is a probable risk factor for multiple cerebral aneurysms due to vessel wall vulnerability. Therapeutic indications for patients with NF1 who show multiple cerebral aneurysms include strict follow-up and aggressive treatment to avoid subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Internal carotid artery aneurysms diagnosed after stereotactic radiosurgery for a growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma: a case report and literature review.

Radiation therapy is associated with the subsequent development of cerebral aneurysms; however, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)-associated aneurysm cases have not been well documented, with only 18 cases reported to date. We present a case of intracranial aneurysms with the rupture occurring 20 years after SRS for a growth hormone-producing pituitary adenoma. This is the first report of aneurysms diagnosed following transsphenoidal surgery and SRS for pituitary adenoma. We believe that the aneurysm reported here is a consequence of the SRS treatment, and thus this may be a very rare long-term complication following radiation treatments.

Modified frailty index predicts postoperative outcomes of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Frailty is an indispensable concept among elderly. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between modified frailty index (mFI) and the postoperative outcome of surgery for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Outcome measures included an unfavorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 4-6) or mortality at 6-8 months after hemorrhage. The prognostic ability of mFI was assessed by comparing adjusted and nonadjusted effects with the Hemphill's ICH score. The performance of the ICH score combined with mFI was assessed for discriminative ability. RESULTS: In total, 156 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. Multivariate analyses revealed that higher mFI was significantly associated with an unfavorable outcome (p-value = 0.004) and mortality (p-value < 0.001). Compared with the ICH score alone, the ICH score combined with mFI revealed significantly higher discriminative ability for predicting postoperative outcome. CONCLUSION: mFI was a useful and reliable predictor of postoperative unfavorable outcome for sICH. Frailty may be an important essence to be considered before operation for sICS in the aging society.

A new type of hyperplastic anterior choroidal artery.

Hyperplastic anomaly of the anterior choroidal artery (hyperplastic AchA) and posterior communicating artery of duplicate origin (duplicated Pcom) are rare vessel anomalies. With some literature review, we here report three cases of hyperplastic AchA, one of which was considered a new type of hyperplastic AchA. This case was not categorized into Takahashi classification.

Efficacy and safety of non-suture dural closure using a novel dural substitute consisting of polyglycolic acid felt and fibrin glue to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leakage-A non-controlled, open-label, multicenter clinical trial.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of non-suture dural closure using a novel dural substitute (GM111) consisting of polyglycolic acid felt with a fibrin-glue-coated area commensurate in size with the dural defect. This was a non-controlled, open-label, multicenter clinical trial. The efficacy evaluation endpoints were (1) GM111's intra-operative capability to close dural defects and (2) prevention of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and subcutaneous CSF retention throughout the postoperative period (evaluated by diagnostic imaging). Patients meeting the following three preoperative and two intra-operative selection criteria were enrolled: (1) between 12 and <75 years of age; (2) the dura is surmised to be defective and in need of reconstruction; (3) informed written consent was obtained from the patient; (4) the surgical wound is class 1; and (5) the size of duraplasty is ≥0.2 cm2 to <100 cm2. Sixty patients were enrolled. The craniotomy site was supratentorial in 77.2%, infratentorial in 12.3% and sellar in 10.5%. The GM111 prosthesis size ranged from 0.24 to 42 cm2. To evaluate the efficacy, intra-operative closure was confirmed by Valsalva's maneuver, water infusion, etc., in all patients. CSF leakage and subcutaneous CSF retention throughout the postoperative period were found in four patients. Adverse events for which a causal relationship with GM111 could not be ruled out occurred in 8.8% of the patients. There were no instances of postoperative infection due to GM111. GM111 showed good closure capability and safety when used for non-suture dural closure.

Delayed Development of Aneurysms Following Gamma Knife Surgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia: Report of 2 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Delayed development of intracranial aneurysms is an extremely rare complication of gamma knife surgery (GKS), with only 6 cases been reported to date. There are no reported cases after GKS performed to treat trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Of the 6 aforementioned cases, none referred to the natural history or pathophysiology of GKS-related intracranial aneurysm formation. CASE DESCRIPTION: We treated 2 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) resulting from rupture of an intracranial aneurysm that developed long after GKS. Case 1 involved a 77-year-old man who had undergone GKS to treat recurrent TN after microvascular decompression surgery. At 13 years after the GSK, he developed SAH from a ruptured left anterior inferior cerebellar artery in close vicinity to the left trigeminal nerve. He died from a premature rupture before intervention could be instituted. Case 2 involved a 72-year-old woman who developed SAH at 9 years after undergoing GKS for TN. A ruptured left superior cerebellar artery aneurysm was treated successfully with endovascular occlusion of the parent artery. She recovered well after the surgery, and was discharged to the rehabilitation hospital with a modified Rankin Scale score of 2. CONCLUSION: Long-term observations are necessary after GKS performed for TN owing to the possibility of formation of intracranial aneurysms near the irradiated region.

Reappearance of free-floating carotid thrombus after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy.

A 73-year-old woman who suddenly developed left hemiparesis was admitted to our hospital. Ultrasonography on admission showed a free-floating thrombus (FFT) attached to an ulcerative plaque in the right common carotid artery. The FFT almost disappeared during treatment with intravenous anticoagulation therapy for acute stroke, but it reappeared when the therapy was discontinued. She underwent endarterectomy on day 13, after which she was free from stroke recurrence.

Characteristics of brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is a major malignancy with a poor prognosis. Although esophageal cancers rarely metastasize to the brain, the number of patients diagnosed with brain metastases (BM) from EC is steadily increasing. Therefore, the risk factors for BM from EC should be known. Here we reviewed our experiences and the previous literature regarding BM from EC. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2013, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical features and neurological findings of 19 patients diagnosed with and treated for BM from EC to determine the clinical risk factors and features. RESULTS: In all patients, the lesions were partially or completed located in the thoracic esophagus, and the average size of the EC lesion at diagnosis was 5.8 ± 2.9 cm, which was smaller than the previously reported size of EC lesions accompanied by BM. Patients without lung metastases were more common than those with lung metastases. The lesions in the 13 patients included squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) in 9 (69.2%) and small cell carcinoma (SmCC) in 3 (23.0%). Six patients were not examined. Although there was no trend toward a higher incidence of BM in patients with adenocarcinoma and SqCC, this trend was observed in patients with SmCC. Excluding a single patient with SmCC, all patients had beyond stage III disease at EC diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that BM can occur in patients with EC lesions smaller than those previously reported; moreover, SmCC may be a risk factor for BM from EC.

Can sufficient preoperative information of intracranial aneurysms be obtained by using 320-row detector CT angiography alone?

PURPOSE: To determine whether sufficient pre-surgical treatment information of unruptured intracranial aneurysms can be obtained by using 320-row detector CT angiography (CTA) alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 40 consecutive patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. All patients were prospectively conducted to perform 320-detector CTA as the only preoperative modality. Two blinded readers independently assessed CTA images. Interobserver agreement and the agreement between CTA and surgical findings were determined by calculating the κ coefficient. The referring neurosurgeons judged the usefulness of the information provided by CTA for treatment decisions. RESULTS: All patients had surgery without intraarterial digital subtraction angiography. Agreement between CTA and surgical findings was excellent for the aneurysm location (κ = 1.0) and good for the shape (κ = 0.71), neck (κ = 0.74) and its relationship with adjacent branches (κ = 0.71). Information obtained with 320-detector CTA was highly useful for surgical treatment in 37 of 40 (93 %) patients, although small perforators deriving from the aneurysm in 2 cases were not fully visualized on CTA images. CONCLUSION: In most patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms, sufficient pre-surgical treatment information can be obtained by using 320-detector CTA alone.

Strategy for treating unruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The natural course of unruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (VADAs) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to develop a strategy for treating unruptured VADAs based on long-term follow-up. METHODS: Our study population consisted of 100 patients with unruptured VADAs; in 66, the initial symptom was headache only, 30 presented with ischemic symptoms and 4 with mass effect. All underwent magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography at the time of admission and 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after the onset. If the dissection site was demonstrated to be enlarged on magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography without the manifestation of new symptoms, the patients received additional treatment to prevent bleeding. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, 4 underwent early intervention because of symptom exacerbation. The other 96 were initially treated conservatively; during follow-up, 5 manifested lesion enlargement on magnetic resonance angiography. Nine patients received additional treatment; 1 underwent direct surgery with trapping of the dissection site, and 8 underwent coil embolization. The other 91 patients continued to be treated conservatively; the dissection site remained unchanged in 70, improved or healed in 18, and disappeared in 3 patients. We treated 38 patients with recurrent ischemic attacks with antiplatelet therapy. No patients experienced bleeding or permanent neurological deficits during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The nature of an unruptured VADA is not highly aggressive. However, if the dissection site enlarges without the manifestation of new symptoms, it should be occluded. In patients with recurrent ischemic attacks antiplatelet therapy should be considered.

De novo formation and rupture of an intracranial aneurysm 10 months after normal findings on conventional magnetic resonance angiography in a patient with no history of intracranial lesions: case report.

A 40-year-old male smoker presented with a ruptured saccular aneurysm that formed de novo 10 months after normal magnetic resonance (MR) angiography findings. Computed tomography of the head at the second admission showed subarachnoid hemorrhage in the interhemispheric fissure and anterior basal cistern. MR and conventional cerebral angiography revealed an aneurysm arising from the anterior communicating artery (AcomA). MR angiography performed 10 months earlier, when he experienced transient loss of consciousness, revealed no anomalies at the AcomA. Intraoperatively, the de novo aneurysm was found to be a typical saccular aneurysm with a fragile wall.

Postoperative quality of life of patients treated for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients who underwent surgery for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). METHODS: The authors assessed QOL in 149 patients who had undergone microsurgical clipping of asymptomatic UIAs. They surveyed these patients using universal methods such as the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) for health-related QOL and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for anxiety and depression assessments. RESULTS: The patients' mean scores for each of the eight domains of SF-36 were comparable to those of a Japanese reference population. Analysis of data from the average-QOL and low-QOL subgroups showed that the low-QOL group contained a higher number of patients with preexisting heart diseases and restricted activities of daily living. Operative procedures and complications did not affect QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Because 86% of the patients who underwent surgery manifested a QOL similar to the reference population, the authors suggest that elective surgery for asymptomatic UIAs is a reasonable treatment, especially in patients who are troubled by the risk of rupture. Postoperative decreases in QOL are not invariably attributable to the operation or its associated complications, but may be correlated with other chronic disorders. To select the appropriate treatment for asymptomatic UIAs, neurosurgeons and patients need information on the expected postoperative QOL.

[Self-assesed quality of life in patients who underwent surgery for asymptomatic meningiomas].

The aim of our study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients operated on for asymptomatic meningioma and to assess the correlation between QOL and operative complications. Of 21 surgically treated patients, 6 (28.6%) presented with persistent neurological impairments or events considered to be treatment-related. Seventeen patients participated in the QOL survey using MOS Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) for health-related QOL issues and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety nd depression assessment. The mean scores for each of the 8 domains of SF-36 were comparable with these of a Japanese reference population. When we divided the patients into 2 groups according to the degree of headache, activity of daily living, or complications, the QOL of patients with persistent headache declined in the SF-36 domains related to physical function and vitality. Minor neurological impairments developed by 4 patients did not affect their QOL. In conclusion, surgery for asymptomatic meningioma has no negative impact on postoperative QOL if the surgical complications are minor. On the other hand, physical activities in some patients were hampered due to persistent headache. Besides the treatment-related morbidity and mortality rates, QOL issues should also be included in treatment indications for asymptomatic meningioma.

Single nucleotide polymorphism 309 affects murin-double-minute 2 protein expression but not glioma tumorigenesis.

Murin-double-minute 2 (MDM2) is an important negative regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor, and affects the p53 protein level and transcriptional activity. The genotype of the single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of MDM2 (single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] 309) is associated with the MDM2 protein expression level and the onset age of several types of cancer. The SNP309 genotype was investigated in 254 Japanese patients with glioma and 50 healthy subjects. The genotype frequency of SNP309 was T/T homozygous in 62 patients (24%), T/G heterozygous in 126 (50%), and G/G homozygous in 66 (26%) of the glioma patients, and was similar in the healthy subjects. The G/G ratio was higher in our Japanese subjects than in Western populations. Immunohistochemical study of glioma tissues showed that the G/G genotype was associated with higher expression of MDM2 protein compared to the T/T genotype, suggesting that SNP309 attenuates MDM2 protein expression in vivo. However, no association was found between the SNP309 genotype and the histological grade of glioma, age at disease onset, or p53 gene mutation rate. In our study population, SNP309 affected MDM2 protein level, but had no significant involvement in glioma tumorigenesis.

Improvement of quality of life in patients surgically treated for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the preoperative and postoperative health-related quality of life (QOL) and psychological state of patients with asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms (ICAs) who underwent elective surgery. METHODS: Out of 67 patients who underwent neck clipping of ICAs, we assessed the QOL of 61 patients using Short Form-36 (SF-36); their psychological state was rated on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before, 3 months, and 1 and 3 years after treatment. RESULTS: The preoperative mean scores for each of the eight SF-36 domains except bodily pain were significantly lower in the study population than in the reference population. 14 (20.9%) patients experienced surgical complications defined as neurological deterioration and/or abnormal CT findings within 30 days of the operation. Despite some complications, the QOL of all operated patients returned to the mean level of the reference population 3 years after treatment. At 3 months after surgery, the scores for psychosocial activities and general health perception were transiently below the preoperative levels. According to the HADS, the patients experienced mild anxiety before the operation; it disappeared by the third postoperative month. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperatively, patients with unruptured ICAs reported a significantly decreased QOL. It further declined transiently after elective surgery, but it returned to the mean level recorded for the reference population within 3 years. Our findings suggest that these patients derived significant QOL benefits from their surgery. Hence subjective QOL issues should be considered in deciding whether treatment-related risks and their natural history, such as their potential rupture, warrant surgery of asymptomatic unruptured ICAs.