Acute and chronic changes in porcine rete mirabile after embolization with the Menox system: angiographic and histopathological analyses.

Objective: To evaluate acute and chronic changes seen on angiographic and histopathological studies of porcine rete mirabile, comparing those treated with the Menox liquid embolic system (LES) and those treated with the Onyx LES. Materials and Methods: Five pigs, each weighing approximately 35 kg, were submitted to rete mirabile embolization under general anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance, with the Menox LES or Onyx LES. Four animals were treated with the Menox LES and underwent cerebral angiography, followed by euthanasia, at 1, 30, 60, and 90 days after embolization. One animal was treated with the Onyx LES underwent the same procedures at 30 days after embolization. In a subsequent histopathological analysis, we compared the Menox LES and Onyx LES in terms of the acute and chronic changes observed. Results: We observed no significant changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or electrocardiographic parameters that could be attributed to the super-selective infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide or the Menox embolic agent. Fluoroscopy showed adequate material opacity, appropriate progression to the center of the rete mirabile and complete unilateral embolization. Microcatheters were uneventfully detached from the embolized nidus. We observed mild to moderate intravascular and extravascular inflammatory responses, without histological evidence of necrotizing arteritis. There were no adverse neurovascular events. Conclusion: The Menox LES appears to be safe and effective, as well as being apparently equivalent to the Onyx LES in terms of the postprocedure angiographic and histopathological findings.

Objetivo: Avaliar as alterações angiográficas e histopatológicas agudas e crônicas em rete mirabile suína tratadas com o Menox liquid embolic system (LES) e comparar essas alterações com a embolização com Onyx LES. Materiais e Métodos: A embolização da rete mirabile com Menox LES e Onyx LES foi realizada em cinco suínos pesando cerca de 35 kg sob anestesia geral e orientação fluoroscópica. Quatro animais tratados com Menox LES foram submetidos a angiografia cerebral seguida de eutanásia após 1, 30, 60 e 90 dias e um animal tratado com Onix LES foi submetido ao mesmo procedimento após 30 dias. A análise histopatológica subsequente para alterações agudas e crônicas avaliou o desempenho do Menox LES comparado ao Onyx LES. Resultados: Não foram observadas alterações significativas atribuíveis à infusão superseletiva de dimetilsulfóxido ou Menox nos parâmetros de pressão arterial, frequência cardíaca ou eletrocardiograma. A fluoroscopia mostrou opacidade adequada do material, progressão adequada para o centro da rete mirabile e embolização unilateral completa. Os microcateteres foram retirados do nidus embolizado sem complicações. Observou-se resposta inflamatória intravascular e extravascular leve a moderada, sem indício histológico de arterite necrosante. Nenhum dos casos apresentou eventos neurovasculares adversos. Conclusão: A injeção de Menox LES mostrou-se segura e eficaz, além de ser equivalente ao Onyx LES em relação aos achados angiográficos e histopatológicos pós-procedimento.

Microvascular lung vessels obstructive thromboinflammatory syndrome in patients with COVID-19: Insights from lung intravascular optical coherence tomography.

Background: Microvascular lung vessels obstructive thromboinflammatory syndrome has been proposed as a possible mechanism of respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients. However, it has only been observed in post-mortem studies and has never been documented in vivo, probably because of a lack of CT scan sensitivity in small pulmonary arteries. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety, tolerability, and diagnostic value of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the assessment of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia for pulmonary microvascular thromboinflammatory syndrome. Methods: The COVID-OCT trial was a multicenter, open-label, prospective, interventional clinical study. Two cohorts of patients were included in the study and underwent pulmonary OCT evaluation. Cohort A consisted of patients with COVID-19 with a negative CT scan for pulmonary thrombosis and elevated thromboinflammatory markers (D-dimer > 10,000 ng/mL or 5,000 < D-dimer < 10,000 ng/mL and one of: C-reactive Protein > 100 mg/dL, IL-6 > 6 pg/mL, or ferritin > 900 ng/L). Cohort B consisted of patients with COVID-19 and a CT scan positive for pulmonary thrombosis. The primary endpoints of the study were: (i) to evaluate the overall safety of OCT investigation in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, and (ii) to report on the potential value of OCT as a novel diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of microvascular pulmonary thrombosis in COVID-19 patients. Results: A total of 13 patients were enrolled. The mean number of OCT runs performed in each patient was 6.1 ± 2.0, both in ground glass and healthy lung areas, achieving a good evaluation of the distal pulmonary arteries. Overall, OCT runs identified microvascular thrombosis in 8 patients (61.5%): 5 cases of red thrombus, 1 case of white thrombus, and 2 cases of mixed thrombus. In Cohort A, the minimal lumen area was 3.5 ± 4.6 mm2, with stenosis of 60.9 ± 35.9% of the area, and the mean length of thrombus-containing lesions was 5.4 ± 3.0 mm. In Cohort B, the percentage area obstruction was 92.6 ± 2.6, and the mean thrombus-containing lesion length was 14.1 ± 13.9 mm. No peri-procedural complications occurred in any of the 13 patients. Conclusion: OCT appears to be a safe and accurate method of evaluating the distal pulmonary arteries in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Here, it enabled the first in vivo documentation of distal pulmonary arterial thrombosis in patients with elevated thromboinflammatory markers, even when their CT angiogram was negative for pulmonary thrombosis. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov, identifier NCT04410549.

Acute and chronic changes in porcine rete mirabile after embolization with the Menox system: angiographic and histopathological analyses / Alterações angiográficas e histopatológicas agudas e crônicas da rete mirabile no modelo suíno com sistema embólico líquido Menox

Abstract Objective: To evaluate acute and chronic changes seen on angiographic and histopathological studies of porcine rete mirabile, comparing those treated with the Menox liquid embolic system (LES) and those treated with the Onyx LES. Materials and Methods: Five pigs, each weighing approximately 35 kg, were submitted to rete mirabile embolization under general anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance, with the Menox LES or Onyx LES. Four animals were treated with the Menox LES and underwent cerebral angiography, followed by euthanasia, at 1, 30, 60, and 90 days after embolization. One animal was treated with the Onyx LES underwent the same procedures at 30 days after embolization. In a subsequent histopathological analysis, we compared the Menox LES and Onyx LES in terms of the acute and chronic changes observed. Results: We observed no significant changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or electrocardiographic parameters that could be attributed to the super-selective infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide or the Menox embolic agent. Fluoroscopy showed adequate material opacity, appropriate progression to the center of the rete mirabile and complete unilateral embolization. Microcatheters were uneventfully detached from the embolized nidus. We observed mild to moderate intravascular and extravascular inflammatory responses, without histological evidence of necrotizing arteritis. There were no adverse neurovascular events. Conclusion: The Menox LES appears to be safe and effective, as well as being apparently equivalent to the Onyx LES in terms of the postprocedure angiographic and histopathological findings.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar as alterações angiográficas e histopatológicas agudas e crônicas em rete mirabile suína tratadas com o Menox liquid embolic system (LES) e comparar essas alterações com a embolização com Onyx LES. Materiais e Métodos: A embolização da rete mirabile com Menox LES e Onyx LES foi realizada em cinco suínos pesando cerca de 35 kg sob anestesia geral e orientação fluoroscópica. Quatro animais tratados com Menox LES foram submetidos a angiografia cerebral seguida de eutanásia após 1, 30, 60 e 90 dias e um animal tratado com Onix LES foi submetido ao mesmo procedimento após 30 dias. A análise histopatológica subsequente para alterações agudas e crônicas avaliou o desempenho do Menox LES comparado ao Onyx LES. Resultados: Não foram observadas alterações significativas atribuíveis à infusão superseletiva de dimetilsulfóxido ou Menox nos parâmetros de pressão arterial, frequência cardíaca ou eletrocardiograma. A fluoroscopia mostrou opacidade adequada do material, progressão adequada para o centro da rete mirabile e embolização unilateral completa. Os microcateteres foram retirados do nidus embolizado sem complicações. Observou-se resposta inflamatória intravascular e extravascular leve a moderada, sem indício histológico de arterite necrosante. Nenhum dos casos apresentou eventos neurovasculares adversos. Conclusão: A injeção de Menox LES mostrou-se segura e eficaz, além de ser equivalente ao Onyx LES em relação aos achados angiográficos e histopatológicos pós-procedimento.

Comparison of surgical and endovascular treatments for fusiform intracranial aneurysms: systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Fusiform intracranial aneurysms (FIA) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data with propensity score adjustment to compare the functional and angiographic outcomes between surgical and endovascular approaches to FIA. We conducted a systematic review for articles on the treatment of FIA with individual patient-level detailing. Data from patients treated for FIA in our institution from 2010 to 2018 were also collected. The primary studied outcome was morbidity, and secondary outcomes were angiographic results and retreatment. Propensity score-adjusted mixed-effects logistic regression models evaluated treatment options, stratified by anatomical location. Compiling original and published data, there were 312 cases, of which 79 (25.3%) had open surgery, and 233 (74.5%) were treated with endovascular procedures. There were no differences between treatment groups, for neither cavernous ICA (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.05-23.6) nor supraclinoid aneurysms (OR 7.82, 95% CI 0.65-94.4). Both size (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.19) and initial mRS (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3) were risk factors for morbidity, independent of location. Neither age nor rupture status influenced the odds of posterior morbidity. Unfavorable angiographic outcomes were more common in the endovascular group for supraclinoid and vertebrobasilar aneurysms (χ2, P < 0.01). There were no differences between morbidity of surgical and endovascular treatments for FIA, regardless of aneurysm location. Size and initial mRS were correlated with functional outcomes, whereas age and rupture status were not. Microsurgery seems to yield better long-term angiographic results compared to endovascular procedures.

Multiple cerebral aneurysms originating from previously resected cardiac myxoma

Primary cardiac tumors are very rare, accounting for 0,001 ­0,03% in autopsy series, cardiac myxoma (CM) account for approximately 50% of them. Association between CM and cerebral aneurysm is well documented in this condition but the occurrence of cerebral aneurysm after resection of CM is very rare, with only 40 reports in medical literature. We present a case of a 45 years old female patient with multiple cerebral aneurysms 2 years after a successful resection of cardiac myxoma, submitted to radiosurgery for 2 bigger aneurysms with good results. This report ads to literature new clinical findings and a hypothesis of radiosurgery as an effective option of treatment for cerebral aneurysms with origin in CM. Keywords: Cardiac Myxoma; Cerebral aneurysm; Radiosurgery; Neurosurgery.

Management of acute stroke and urgent neurointerventional procedures during COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations on the Scientific Department on Cerebrovascular Diseases of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, Brazilian Society of Cerebrovascular Diseases and Brazilian Society of Neuroradiology.

INTRODUCTION: Although the 2019 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) pandemic poses new challenges to the healthcare system to provide support for thousands of patients, there is special concern about common medical emergencies, such as stroke, that will continue to occur and will require adequate treatment. The allocation of both material and human resources to fight the pandemic cannot overshadow the care for acute stroke, a time-sensitive emergency that with an inefficient treatment will further increase mortality and long-term disability. OBJECTIVE: This paper summarizes the recommendations from the Scientific Department on Cerebrovascular Diseases of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, the Brazilian Society of Cerebrovascular Diseases and the Brazilian Society of Neuroradiology for management of acute stroke and urgent neuro-interventional procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, including proper use of screening tools, personal protective equipment (for patients and health professionals), and patient allocation.

Management of acute stroke and urgent neurointerventional procedures during COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations on the Scientific Department on Cerebrovascular Diseases of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, Brazilian Society of Cerebrovascular Diseases and Brazilian Society of Neuroradiology / Tratamento do acidente vascular cerebral agudo e realização de procedimentos de neurointervenção urgentes durante a pandemia de COVID-19: recomendações do Departamento Científico de Doenças Cerebrovasculares da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia, Sociedade Brasileira de Doenças Cerebrovasculares e Sociedade Brasileira de Neurorradiologia

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although the 2019 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) pandemic poses new challenges to the healthcare system to provide support for thousands of patients, there is special concern about common medical emergencies, such as stroke, that will continue to occur and will require adequate treatment. The allocation of both material and human resources to fight the pandemic cannot overshadow the care for acute stroke, a time-sensitive emergency that with an inefficient treatment will further increase mortality and long-term disability. Objective: This paper summarizes the recommendations from the Scientific Department on Cerebrovascular Diseases of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, the Brazilian Society of Cerebrovascular Diseases and the Brazilian Society of Neuroradiology for management of acute stroke and urgent neuro-interventional procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, including proper use of screening tools, personal protective equipment (for patients and health professionals), and patient allocation.

RESUMO Introdução: A pandemia causada pelo novo coronavírus da síndrome respiratória aguda grave 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) apresenta novos e importantes desafios à gestão de saúde no Brasil. Além da difícil missão de prestar atendimento aos milhares de pacientes infectados pelo COVID-19, os sistemas de saúde têm que manter a assistência às emergências médicas comuns em períodos sem pandemia, tais como o acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), que continuam ocorrendo e requerem tratamento com presteza e eficiência. A alocação de recursos materiais e humanos para o enfrentamento à pandemia não pode comprometer o atendimento ao AVC agudo, uma emergência cujo tratamento é tempo-dependente e se não realizado implica em importante impacto na mortalidade e incapacitação a longo prazo. Objetivo: Este trabalho resume as recomendações do Departamento Científico de Doenças Cerebrovasculares da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia, da Sociedade Brasileira de Doenças Cerebrovasculares e da Sociedade Brasileira de Neurorradiologia para o tratamento do AVC agudo e para a realização de procedimentos de neurointervenção urgentes durante a pandemia de COVID-19, incluindo o uso adequado de ferramentas de triagem e equipamentos de proteção pessoal (para pacientes e profissionais de saúde), além da alocação apropriada de pacientes.

Republished: Spinal arteriovenous malformation without endovascular arterial access: is a combined neurosurgical approach and direct venous puncture an option?

This case report describes a combined neurosurgical and endovascular approach for the treatment of a conus medullaris arteriovenous malformation resulting in considerable improvement in the patient's neurological condition (modified Rankin Scale score 2).

Spinal arteriovenous malformation without endovascular arterial access: is a combined neurosurgical approach and direct venous puncture an option?

This case report describes a combined neurosurgical and endovascular approach for the treatment of a conus medullaris arteriovenous malformation resulting in considerable improvement in the patient's neurological condition (modified Rankin Scale score 2).

The current clinical picture of cerebral proliferative angiopathy: systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) is a rare subset of arteriovenous malformations (AVM). It has unique clinical presentation, angiographic characteristics, and pathophysiology which often brings challenges for the treatment. We aimed to define its epidemiology, pathophysiology are unknown, and best management strategies. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE was searched for articles regarding CPA. Extracted data included epidemiological, clinical, and angiographical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes. Treatment was classified as conservative, radiosurgery, endovascular, decompression, and indirect vascularization. A meta-analytical approach was employed for description of the data as study-size adjusted percentages or weighted means, as appropriate. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies were analyzed, rendering a total 95 cases-half of which came from a single study. Patients were predominantly young (mean 23 years old) and female (60.0%) presenting with headaches (44.9%), seizures (37.1%), or transient ischemic attacks (33.7%). Hemorrhage was present in 18.0%, but rebleeding rates were as high as 67%. The majority of nidus were > 6 cm (52.5%) with hemispheric extension (73.0%). Capillary angioectatic appearance (85.7%), transdural supply (62.5%), and deep venous drainage (73.0%) were also frequent features. Most patients were treated conservatively (54.4%), followed by endovascular (34.2%). Indirect vascularization and radiosurgery were attempted in five and two patients, respectively. Mean follow-up was 110.8 patient-years. Neurological status improved in 50.7%, remained stable in 40.2%, and worsened in 9.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative and endovascular treatments seem adequate interventions, despite limited evidence. Complementary techniques can be used in patients throughout disease history, according to symptom-based, individualized approach. More studies are required for choosing interventions based on reliable long-term results.

The PHASES score: To treat or not to treat? Retrospective evaluation of the risk of rupture of intracranial aneurysms in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The PHASES score was formulated to predict the 5-year risk of rupture for intracranial aneurysms. We retrospectively analyzed all patients treated in our institution for aneurysmal SAH and applied the PHASES score to estimate the probable predicted risk of bleeding in this group of patients. METHODS: Between February 2015 and August 2018, all patients with aneurysmal SAH were retrospectively analyzed and the PHASES score was applied. A total of 155 patients were included with a mean age of 53.8years, including 60 males and 95 females. RESULTS: Of our patients 110 (70.9%) had a PHASES score of below or equal to 5, with a hemorrhagic risk of up to 1.3% over 5years. If we analyze the patients with a risk of below 2% this figure increases to 122 patients (78.7%). Of these 99.3% were European and 0.6% were Japanese (1 patient). In 86 patients (55.4%), the aneurysm was smaller than 5mm and in 10 patients (6.4%) the aneurysm was located in the posterior circulation. CONCLUSION: Of our patients 78.7% had less than a 2% 5-year rupture risk based on their PHASES score, highlighting the discrepancy of the rupture risk calculated with the PHASES score when hypothetically applied to this group of patients. In the hypothetical scenario that our patients had unruptured aneurysms, our retrospective analysis shows that the PHASES score may only provide a weak tool for clinicians to use in the decision-making process as to whether or not to treat these aneurysms.

Epidemiological analysis of 1404 patients with intracranial aneurysm followed in a single Brazilian institution.

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate the epidemiology of intracranial aneurysms in relation to location, gender, age, presence of multiple aneurysms, and comorbidities in the Brazilian population. METHODS: We performed a prospective analysis of a cohort of 1404 patients diagnosed with intracranial aneurysm admitted to the Hospital das Clinicas of the University of Sao Paulo, a referral hospital for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases in Brazil. Patients admitted between September 2009 and September 2018 with radiological diagnosis of intracranial aneurysm were included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 2251 aneurysms were diagnosed. Females accounted for 1090 aneurysms (77.6%) and the mean age at diagnosis was 54.9 years (ranging 15-88). The most common location was middle cerebral artery (MCA) with 593 aneurysms (26.3%) followed by anterior cerebral artery (ACA) with 417 aneurysms (18.5%) and internal carotid artery in the posterior communicating segment with 405 aneurysms (18.0%). Males had higher rates of ACA aneurysms (29.7%) while females had higher rates of MCA aneurysms (26.1%). Sorting by size, 492 aneurysms were <5 mm (21.8%), 1524 measured 5-10 mm (67.7%), 119 size 11-24 mm (5.3%), and 116 were >24 mm (5.2%). The occurrence of multiple aneurysms was associated with female gender (P < 0.001) and smoking (P < 0.001), but not with hypertension (P = 0.121). CONCLUSION: In this population, the occurrence of intracranial aneurysm is related to several factors, including gender, age, smoking, and hypertension. Our study brought to light important characteristics of a large number of Brazilian patients regarding epidemiology, location, size, and multiplicity of intracranial aneurysms.

Vessel wall MRI revealing inflammation on brain aneurysm associated to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.

Some authors have reported the association between CMC and brain aneurysms. In this paper it is reported a fusiform brain aneurysm associated to CMC and the vessel wall MRI findings.

Low-grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma with Unusual Metastasis to the Skull

Background Endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs) are the second most common uterine sarcomas. Although ESSs are often indolent, they have metastatic potential. To the best of our knowledge, there are only three reports of brain metastasis, and the present report is the first to describe a late skull metastasis of an ESS. Case Report We describe the case of a 51-year-old woman who presented abnormal vaginal bleeding 14 years ago; she was diagnosed with an uterine mass and submitted to a hysterectomy. One year ago she presented ESS lung metastasis followed by a left parietal calvarial metastasis. The optimal treatment for metastatic ESS is controversial, but the use of progesterone and aromatase inhibitors is advisable.

Introdução Sarcoma endometrial estromal (SEE) é a segunda lesão mais frequente dentre os sarcomas uterinos. Geralmente são lesões indolentes, mas com potencial de desenvolver metástase. Até o momento há apenas três relatos de metástase cerebral, sendo este o primeiro estudo a descrever uma metástase craniana tardia dessas lesões. Relato de caso Nós descrevemos o caso de uma paciente de 51 anos de idade que apresentou há 14 anos um quadro de sangramento vaginal anormal, sendo diagnosticada uma massa uterina; a paciente foi submetida a uma histerectomia. Há um ano ela evoluiu com metástase pulmonar, seguida por metástase craniana parietal esquerda. O tratamento ideal do SEE metastático ainda é controverso, mas o uso de inibidores de aromatase é aconselhável.