Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensity-diffusion-weighted imaging mismatch and functional outcome after endovascular reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensity (FVH) outside of the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesion, termed FVH-DWI mismatch, may represent penumbral tissue with good collateral status. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent endovascular reperfusion therapy (EVT) for acute internal carotid artery (ICA) or middle cerebral artery (MCA)-M1 occlusion were enrolled. FVH-DWI mismatch score was defined as the number of cortical Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score areas (I and M1 to M6) that involved FVH but no DWI lesion (0 to 7 points). The outcome measure was set as good functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2, at 90 days after onset. RESULTS: Of 196 consecutive patients who underwent EVT for acute ICA or MCA-M1 occlusion, 32 without brain MRI before EVT were excluded, and the remaining 164 were analyzed. The median FVH-DWI mismatch score was 2 (interquartile range, 0 to 4). At 90 days after EVT, 2 patients were lost-to follow-up, and 73 had good functional outcome. The frequency of good functional outcome at 90 days after EVT increased significantly with increasing FVH-DWI mismatch score (P for trend <0.001). FVH-DWI mismatch score was independently associated with good functional outcome at 90 days after onset (adjusted odds ratio per 1 point,1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.89). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with large FVH-DWI mismatch had good functional outcome after EVT for acute ICA or MCA-M1 occlusion.

Chronic Subdural Hematoma after Craniotomy with Preoperative Embolization of Middle Meningeal Artery: A Case Report.

Endovascular embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) has been reported as an effective method for treating chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH); however, its preventive effect on CSDH following craniotomy is unknown. We present a case in which MMA embolization was ineffective in preventing CSDH following craniotomy. A 56-year-old man who complained of diplopia was diagnosed with sphenoid ridge meningioma with a 3-cm diameter. MMA embolization prior to the operation and total surgical removal of the tumor were performed. Two months postoperatively, the patient complained of headache and hemiparesis of the left side. CSDH with a 15-mm thickness and a midline shift was observed. MMA embolization before inflammation may not play a role in preventing CSDH development because MMA embolization is considered effective in CSDH because it is associated with the blood supply of neovessels that are newly formed due to inflammation. Therefore, MMA embolization might not be effective in preventing the occurrence of CSDH following craniotomy.

Endovascular Therapy for Acute Stroke with a Large Ischemic Region.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke is generally avoided when the infarction is large, but the effect of endovascular therapy with medical care as compared with medical care alone for large strokes has not been well studied. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial in Japan involving patients with occlusion of large cerebral vessels and sizable strokes on imaging, as indicated by an Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomographic Score (ASPECTS) value of 3 to 5 (on a scale from 0 to 10, with lower values indicating larger infarction). Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive endovascular therapy with medical care or medical care alone within 6 hours after they were last known to be well or within 24 hours if there was no early change on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. Alteplase (0.6 mg per kilogram of body weight) was used when appropriate in both groups. The primary outcome was a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 3 (on a scale from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater disability) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included a shift across the range of modified Rankin scale scores toward a better outcome at 90 days and an improvement of at least 8 points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (range, 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater deficit) at 48 hours. RESULTS: A total of 203 patients underwent randomization; 101 patients were assigned to the endovascular-therapy group and 102 to the medical-care group. Approximately 27% of patients in each group received alteplase. The percentage of patients with a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 3 at 90 days was 31.0% in the endovascular-therapy group and 12.7% in the medical-care group (relative risk, 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35 to 4.37; P = 0.002). The ordinal shift across the range of modified Rankin scale scores generally favored endovascular therapy. An improvement of at least 8 points on the NIHSS score at 48 hours was observed in 31.0% of the patients in the endovascular-therapy group and 8.8% of those in the medical-care group (relative risk, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.76 to 7.00), and any intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 58.0% and 31.4%, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a trial conducted in Japan, patients with large cerebral infarctions had better functional outcomes with endovascular therapy than with medical care alone but had more intracranial hemorrhages. (Funded by Mihara Cerebrovascular Disorder Research Promotion Fund and the Japanese Society for Neuroendovascular Therapy; RESCUE-Japan LIMIT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03702413.).

Intraplaque high-intensity signal on time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography and restenosis after carotid artery stenting.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that intraplaque hemorrhage is a predictor of restenosis after carotid artery stenting (CAS), the association between intraplaque high-intensity signal (HIS) on time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF-MRA), as a marker of intraplaque hemorrhage, and restenosis after CAS was assessed in the present observational study. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent initial CAS for atherosclerotic stenosis in the cervical internal carotid artery in the authors' department were enrolled. Of these, patients without preprocedural cervical TOF-MRA were excluded. Outcome measures were ≥ 50% restenosis, defined as a peak systolic velocity of > 1.3 m/sec; or occlusion and ≥ 70% restenosis, defined as a peak systolic velocity of > 2.1 m/sec; or occlusion on carotid duplex ultrasound. RESULTS: Of 230 consecutive patients who underwent initial CAS, 22 without preprocedural cervical TOF-MRA were excluded. Of the remaining 208 patients (mean age 73 years; 33 women), 46 had intraplaque HIS. Ultrasound follow-up was not performed in 4 patients. The median follow-up duration was 3.2 years (interquartile range 1.7-5.1 years). During the follow-up period, 102 patients had ≥ 50% restenosis and 36 had ≥ 70% restenosis. Intraplaque HIS was significantly associated with increased risk of ≥ 50% restenosis (adjusted hazard ratio 2.18; 95% CI 1.28-3.68) and ≥ 70% restenosis (adjusted hazard ratio 3.12; 95% CI 1.32-7.52). CONCLUSIONS: Intraplaque HIS on TOF-MRA was associated with increased risk of restenosis after CAS. The present results indicate that intraplaque hemorrhage is a predictor of restenosis after CAS.

Efficacy of combined use of a stent retriever and aspiration catheter in mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of combined stent retriever (SR) and aspiration catheter (AC; combined technique: CBT) use for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unclear. We investigated the safety and efficacy of single-unit CBT (SCBT)-retrieving the thrombus as a single unit with SR and AC into the guide catheter-compared with single use of either SR or contact aspiration (CA). METHODS: We analysed 763 consecutive patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for AIS between January 2013 and January 2020, at six comprehensive stroke centers. Patients were divided into SCBT and single device (SR/CA) groups. The successful recanalization with first pass (SRFP) and other procedural outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: Overall, 240 SCBT and 301 SR/CA (SR 128, CA 173) patients were analyzed. SRFP (modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) ≥2c, 43.3% vs 27.9%, p<0.001; mTICI 3, 35.8% vs 25.5%, p=0.009) and final mTICI ≥2b recanalization (89.1% vs 82.0%, p=0.020) rates were significantly higher, puncture-to-reperfusion time was shorter (median (IQR) 43 (31.5-69) vs 55 (38-82.2) min, p<0.001), and the number of passes were fewer (mean±SD 1.72±0.92 vs 1.99±1.01, p<0.001) in the SCBT group. Procedural complications were similar between the groups. In subgroup analysis, SCBT was more effective in women, cardioembolic stroke patients, and internal carotid artery and M2 occlusions. CONCLUSIONS: SCBT increases the SRFP rate and shortens the puncture-to-reperfusion time without increasing procedural complications.

Mechanical thrombectomy and carotid artery stenting for stenosis of the internal carotid artery with free-floating thrombosis: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: The authors report a case in which mechanical thrombectomy and carotid artery stenting (CAS) were performed for acute cerebral infarction with free-floating thrombosis (FFT) in left internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. Good results were obtained. OBSERVATIONS: A 63-year-old man developed sudden disturbance of consciousness and right hemiplegia. He was transported to the authors' hospital by an emergency vehicle. Head magnetic resonance imaging showed acute cerebral infarction in the left middle cerebral artery region, and magnetic resonance angiography showed poor vascular flow beyond the left ICA. Emergency angiography revealed severe stenosis at the origin of the left ICA and a free-floating thrombus attached to the stenosis and extending to the peripheral side. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed on the stenosis with proximal protection, the thrombus was aspirated under reversal flow, and CAS was performed without exacerbation of clinical symptoms. LESSONS: PTA, thrombus aspiration, and CAS under reversal flow may be effective treatments for FFT caused by ICA stenosis.

Carotid artery stenting before surgery for carotid artery occlusion associated with acute type A aortic dissection: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: We experienced two cases of ischemic stroke resulting from carotid artery occlusion associated with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD), in which carotid artery stenting before the surgery for ATAAD resulted in good clinical outcomes.Case 1 description: A 63-year-old woman was hospitalized for conscious disturbance, right hemiparesis, and total aphasia. Computed tomography of the head showed no abnormal findings. Computed tomography angiography showed ATAAD and bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. Surgery was not indicated for ATAAD because of a poor prognosis of ischemic stroke. However, carotid artery stenting of the left common carotid artery occlusion was successfully performed, and her neurological findings improved. The patient underwent hemiarch replacement for ATAAD on the day after carotid artery stenting. Her final modified Rankin Scale was 1. Case 2 Description: A 57-year-old woman was hospitalized for mild left hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed right watershed infarction and right common carotid artery occlusion. Computed tomography angiography showed ATAAD. After hospitalization, conscious disturbance appeared and left hemiparesis worsened. Ischemic stroke indicated a poor prognosis for revascularization by surgery for ATAAD. Thus, carotid artery stenting of the right common carotid artery occlusion was performed. The patient's neurological findings improved and she underwent hemiarch replacement for ATAAD at 19 days after carotid artery stenting. Her final modified Rankin Scale was 1. CONCLUSIONS: In the present cases, although ischemic stroke was serious and precluded surgical indication for ATAAD, carotid artery stenting before surgery for ATAAD resulted in good clinical outcomes. Performing carotid artery stenting before surgery for ATAAD is challenging but achievable, and is a valid treatment option depending on the individual cases.

Comparison of pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling perfusion MR images and time-of-flight MR angiography in the detection of periictal hyperperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including perfusion MRI with three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (ASL) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), are applied in the periictal (including ictal and postictal) detection of circulatory and metabolic consequences associated with epilepsy. Our previous report revealed that periictal hyperperfusion can firstly be detected on ASL, and cortical hyperintensity of cytotoxic edema secondarily obtained on DWI from an epileptically activated cortex. Although magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using three-dimensional time-of-flight is widely used to evaluate arterial circulation, few MRA studies have investigated the detection of periictal hyperperfusion. METHODS: To compare the ability of ASL and MRA to detect the periictal hyperperfusion on visual inspection, we retrospectively selected 23 patients who underwent ASL and MRA examination on both periictal and interictal periods. Patients were divided into the following three groups according to periictal ASL/DWI findings: positive ASL and DWI findings (n = 13, ASL+/DWI+ group), positive ASL and negative DWI findings (n = 5, ASL+/DWI- group), and negative ASL and DWI findings (n = 5, ASL-/DWI- group). RESULTS: Periictal hyperperfusion on MRA was detected in 6 out of 13 patients (46.2%) in the ASL+/DWI+ group, but not in all patients in the ASL+/DWI- and ASL-/DWI- groups. Furthermore, in 5 out of these 6 patients, the diagnosis of periictal MRA hyperperfusion could not be made without referring to interictal MRA and/or periictal ASL findings, because the periictal MRA findings were so minute. CONCLUSION: The minimum requirement for the development of periictal MRA hyperperfusion is that its epileptic event is intense enough to induce the uncoupling between metabolism and circulation, with the induction of glutamate excitotoxity, and severe cytotoxic edema on DWI. ASL is vastly superior to MRA in the detection of periictal hyperperfusion.

Effect of Direct Neurologic Evaluation on Outcomes During Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms Under Local Anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: The greatest advantage of local anesthesia (LA) in endovascular treatment (EVT) of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) is that direct neurologic evaluation can be performed during the procedure, unlike with general anesthesia. However, the usefulness of such direct evaluation has not been established. In this study, we attempted to assess the effects of direct neurologic evaluation by identifying the causes, management, and outcomes of clinical symptoms during the procedure and procedure-related events during EVT under LA. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical and radiologic data of 1000 patients (1015 UIAs) who had undergone coil embolization under LA from 2008 to 2016. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms were identified in 62 patients (6.2%) during the procedure. The symptoms improved during the procedure in 27 of these patients (44%) and after the procedure in another 28 (45%). One month after the procedure, 55 patients (89%) had good outcomes and 7 (11%) had poor outcomes. Procedure-related events occurred in 67 patients (6.7%); of these 67 events, 39 were symptomatic and 28 were asymptomatic. Thirty-five of the 39 symptomatic events (90%) [13 of 13 (100%) ruptures, 6 of 10 (60%) thrombus formations, and 16 of 16 (100%) thromboembolisms] were detected on the basis of clinical symptoms before angiographic changes were identified, and they were managed promptly. All 28 patients with asymptomatic events were managed safely without further complications before symptoms developed. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that appropriate management of clinical symptoms and procedure-related events under LA led to favorable outcomes of EVT of UIAs.

Safety and Feasibility of Neuroendovascular Therapy for Elderly Patients: Analysis of Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy 3.

Japan has a rapidly aging population and the application of neuroendovascular therapy (NET) for cerebrovascular diseases among elderly patients has increased, but feasibility and safety of NET for elderly patients are still debated. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate feasibility and safety of NET by analyzing the Japanese nationwide database, the Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy 3 (JR-NET 3). In total, 35,972 patients in the JR-NET 3 were analyzed retrospectively. "Elderly patients" were defined as those aged ≥75 years. Approximately one-quarter of patients who received NET were elderly patients. The proportion of patients with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 before treatment and 30 days after NET was significantly low across all diseases in the elderly patients. Technical success rates were generally high across all procedures, but complication rate was significantly higher among elderly patients; ischemic complications were significantly higher with NET for unruptured aneurysms (UA) and carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Multivariate analysis revealed that mRS 0-2 before treatment [odds ratio (OR): 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34-0.94, P = 0.03], middle cerebral artery aneurysm (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12-0.92, P = 0.04), and complete obliteration (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44-0.97, P = 0.03) were associated with ischemic complications with NET for UA. Moreover, mRS 0-2 before treatment (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36-0.86, P < 0.01), high intensity with time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.03-2.32, P = 0.04), open-cell stent (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.50-3.22, P <0.01) were associated with ischemic complications with NET for CAS. Taken together, our findings indicate that cautious and precise selection of patients suitable for NET is necessary.

First-in-man experience of the Versi Retriever in acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our initial experience with the Versi Retriever for mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This study is a single-center, single-arm, first-in-man registry under institutional review board control to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the new stent retriever, the Versi Retriever. Patients with acute ischemic stroke were consecutively enrolled between September and November 2017. The clinical and procedural data were retrospectively analyzed. The angiographic result after the procedure was self-graded based on the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) scale by each operator. RESULTS: Eleven patients with a mean age of 69.4 years were treated with the Versi Retriever. Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission was 16 (IQR 10-34). The occluded vessel was located in the anterior circulation in 81.8%. Revascularization rates of TICI 2b-3 and TICI 3 at final angiogram were achieved in 100% and 63.6%, respectively. A favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) at 90 days was obtained in 72.7%. No symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred and no procedure-related complication was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience suggests that the Versi Retriever is a safe and effective stent retriever for mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03366818.

Comparison of practical methods in clinical sites for estimating cerebral blood flow during balloon test occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to compare methods of measurement for venous phase delay (VPD) or mean stump pressure (MSTP) to rank their potential to predict ischemic tolerance during balloon test occlusion in the internal carotid artery, exploring a more correlative and convenient way to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF) that could be utilized even in the acute phase or in institutions not adequately equipped to measure CBF during the test. METHODS: X-ray angiography perfusion analysis using diagnostic digital subtraction angiography (DSA) equipment enables 1-step examination (without any room-to-room transfer of patients) to measure CBF, VPD, and MSTP completely simultaneously, which has not been accomplished by any previous perfusion studies. RESULTS: This analysis was applied to 17 patients and resulted in successful estimation of all 3 parameters in each case. The average VPD of several cortical veins had a strong correlation with relative CBF (rCBF) between bilateral hemispheres with a correlation coefficient of 0.89443, a correlation as strong as that (0.90357) of the "approximate VPD," which is interpreted based on the trend line of the scatterplot of the time to peak contrast opacification in cortical veins and their spatial positioning from the median sagittal plane. MSTP and classic visual determination of VPD have weaker correlation coefficients with rCBF (0.56119 and 0.70048, respectively). Overall, subjective visual determination in combination with the calculation of the trend line to estimate VPD provided a considerably strong correlation with rCBF (R = 0.86660) without any dedicated software or hardware. CONCLUSIONS: VPD has a stronger correlation with rCBF than MSTP. rCBF could be successfully predicted on common DSA equipment, even by visual determination without expensive software, if the trend line is adopted for processing to estimate VPD.

Postoperative in-stent protrusion is an important predictor of perioperative ischemic complications after carotid artery stenting.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although in-stent protrusion is a potential risk factor for thromboembolism following carotid artery stenting, the correlation between in-stent protrusion and postoperative ipsilateral stroke has not been well examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 342 consecutive carotid artery lesions in 319 patients who underwent carotid artery stenting between April 2008 and April 2015. After excluding cases with carotid artery dissection and acute occlusion, 301 lesions in total of 277 patients were included in the analysis. We examined the association between in-stent protrusion, which was detected by intravascular ultrasound, and postoperative ipsilateral stroke within 30 days. RESULTS: In-stent protrusion was observed in 47 (15.6%) lesions, of which postoperative ipsilateral stroke within 30 days occurred with 4 (8.5%) lesions. All these events occurred within 10 days after treatment. On the other hand, only 1 (0.39%) of the 256 lesions without in-stent protrusion showed this symptom, and the event occurred at 30days after treatment. Thus, lesions with in-stent protrusion had a higher cumulative risk of ipsilateral stroke than those without in-stent protrusion (8.5% vs 0.4% at 30 days, log-rank P < 0.001). In-stent protrusion, which was more often seen in symptomatic lesions, was associated with a vulnerable plaque assessed by MRI. After adjustment for postoperative stroke risks such as symptomatic lesions, plaque vulnerability, age or sex, in-stent protrusion was still significantly associated with postoperative ipsilateral stroke within 30 days (OR = 27.03, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative ipsilateral stroke was observed more frequently in patients with demonstrated in-stent protrusion (ISP) following CAS.

Risk factors for and outcomes of intraprocedural rupture during endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The risk factors for intraprocedural rupture (IPR) of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) and the outcomes of IPR itself are unclear. This study was performed to identify the independent risk factors for and outcomes of IPR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records and radiologic data of 1375 patients (1406 UIAs) who underwent coil embolization from January 2001 to October 2016. RESULTS: IPR occurred in 20 aneurysms of 20 patients (1.4%). Univariate analyses showed that the rate of IPR was significantly higher in the treatment of aneurysms with a small dome size, aneurysms in the anterior communicating artery (AcomA) (6.6%), and patients with a medical history of dyslipidemia. Multivariate analyses showed that a small dome size and aneurysms in the AcomA were independently associated with IPR (p=0.0096 and p=0.0001, respectively). IPR induced by a microcatheter was associated with a higher risk of severe subarachnoid hemorrhage than other causes of IPR (57% vs 0%, respectively). Thromboembolic complications occurred in seven (35%) patients with IPR. Six (30%) patients required external ventricular drainage placement after developing symptoms of acute hydrocephalus. The overall morbidity and mortality rates from IPR were 0.22% and 0.15%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysms in the AcomA and with a small dome size are likely to be risk factors for IPR. IPR induced by microcatheters can result in poor outcomes. The rate of IPR-associated thromboembolic complications is high, and IPR itself is associated with acute hydrocephalus. If managed appropriately, however, most patients with IPR can survive without neurological deterioration.

[Two Cases of Ruptured Blood Blister-like Aneurysm Treated with X-ray Angiography Perfusion(XAP)Analysis].

Two cases of ruptured blood blister-like internal carotid artery aneurysms for which low flow bypass was sufficient to attain successful treatment of trapping are reported. In the acute stage of rupture, it is troublesome to perform accurate examinations of tolerance to ischemia like balloon occlusion test(BOT)for estimating the required amount of bypass flow. In our cases, X-ray angiography perfusion(XAP)analysis was introduced, which could be performed in a couple dozen seconds without room-to-room transfer of patients, following the ordinary examination of diagnostic digital subtraction angiography. The perfusion index(PI)ratio measured in this analysis is equivalent to the laterality of cerebral blood flow between the right and left hemispheres. The PI ratio of 0.85 approximately corresponds to the mean stump pressure(MSTP)of 40mmHg, on the basis of the correlation diagram between the PI ratio and MSTP(approximate straight line:PI ratio%=0.6×MSTP+60). Even though the PI ratio of the cases was superior to this threshold of tolerance for parent artery occlusion, complementary low flow bypass was added in the acute case for the overwhelming succeeding vasospasm and for securing the flow to peripheral perforators, which resulted in a successful treatment without any ischemic events.

Interaction between the stent strut and thrombus characterized by contrast-enhanced high-resolution cone beam CT during deployment of the Solitaire stent retriever.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism by which a stent retriever removes intraluminal thrombus from an occluded vessel in humans has not previously been studied. This study performed contrast-enhanced high-resolution cone beam CT (CE-HRCBCT) during deployment of the stent retriever to observe the interaction between the strut and intraluminal thrombus intraoperatively. We also discuss the mechanism by which the thrombus is retrieved. METHODS: In 11 patients, mechanical thrombectomy was performed with a Solitaire stent retriever. The presence or absence of flow restoration (FR) was evaluated immediately and at least 5 min after deployment. Stent retriever findings on CE-HRCBCT were divided into two groups: (1) complete expansion; and (2) incomplete expansion. RESULTS: FR was observed in all 11 cases (100%) immediately after deployment of the Solitaire stent retriever. Complete expansion was observed in only one case and incomplete expansion was observed in 10 cases. The thrombus was observed mainly near to or outside the strut of the stent retriever by CE-HRCBCT. Loss of FR was seen in only one of the 11 cases. Regardless of this, successful recanalization was achieved with only the stent retriever in nine cases. CONCLUSIONS: CE-HRCBCT showed that the Solitaire stent retriever rarely expanded fully and the thrombus was mainly near to or outside the strut. It may not be necessary to wait a long time to allow the stent to expand fully into the thrombus because the main capture mechanism seems to be engagement of the clot between the crossings of the struts of the Solitaire.

[Contralateral suboccipital approach for clipping of an unruptured vertebral artery-posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm].

Numerous approaches have been used to access aneurysms of the vertebral artery(VA)-posterior inferior cerebellar artery(PICA)complex for microsurgical clipping. Here, we report the case of a patient with an unruptured aneurysm of the left VA-PICA complex that was successfully treated using a contralateral suboccipital approach. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated a small saccular aneurysm arising from the lateral aspect of the left V4 segment just distal to the PICA origin. The aneurysm deviated to the right from the midline at the level of the jugular tubercle on angiographic evaluation, so we selected a contralateral suboccipital approach. The aneurysm was completely obliterated by neck clipping. After surgery, slight dysphagia and hoarseness appeared, but dysphagia disappeared within several days and hoarseness disappeared within 5 months. VA-PICA aneurysms can vary in their relationship to cranial nerves, brainstem, and bones of the skull base. Neurosurgeons should consider using a contralateral approach for certain aneurysms arising from a tortuous VA that has crossed the midline.

Risk of rebleeding in arteriovenous malformations due to impaired venous drainage after radiosurgery.

A 27-year-old woman presented with rebleeding from an intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) 6 years after radiosurgery. Cerebral angiography demonstrated venous drainage change into a single drainer and cortical reflux due to drainage occlusion into the superior sagittal sinus. During surgery, multiple small feeders thought to be occluded on preoperative angiography caused brain swelling, hindering resection of the AVM border plane. Flow changes after radiosurgery, especially impaired venous drainage, may have increased the tendency to rebleeding of the AVM. Scheduled angiography after radiosurgery is recommended, and retreatment for residual AVMs is preferable, especially if venous drainage change occurs.

Double lumbosacral lipomas of the dorsal and filar types associated with OEIS complex: case report.

A female baby was born at 37 weeks and 6 days gestation by vaginal delivery with omphalocele, exstrophy of the cloaca, and imperforate anus, indicating the presence of OEIS complex, a rare combination of defects consisting of omphalocele (O), exstrophy of the cloaca (E), imperforate anus (I), and spinal deformity (S), associated with lumbosacral lipoma. The most common associated spinal deformity is terminal myelocystocele, and spinal lipoma is rare. Constructive interference in steady-state magnetic resonance imaging clearly revealed double lipomas, a dorsal-type lipoma, located dorsal to the low-lying conus medullaris, and a filar-type lipoma, revealed by a thickened and fatty filum terminale. After recovery from abdominogenital repairs, debulking of the dorsal-type lipoma and untethering of the spinal cord by sectioning of the filar-type lipoma were performed at the age of 14 months. Neurosurgical treatment for occult spinal dysraphism should be undertaken after recovery from the initial series of major abdominogenital procedures.

Cerebellar hemangioblastoma manifesting as hearing disturbance.

A 49-year-old man presented with a rare case of cerebellar hemangioblastoma manifesting as only hearing disturbance. He had suffered from hearing difficulty in the right ear for a few months. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic mass lesion with an internal fluid level and surrounding flow voids in the right cerebellopontine (CP) angle. Cerebral angiography disclosed a vascular-rich tumor fed by both the superior cerebellar and anterior inferior cerebellar arteries. En bloc resection of the tumor was planned under a preoperative diagnosis of cerebellar hemangioblastoma. The tumor protruded into the CP cistern and compressed cranial nerve VIII. The feeding arteries were meticulously coagulated and the tumor was successfully removed. The histological diagnosis was hemangioblastoma. After the operation, the patient's hearing acuity improved dramatically. Cerebellar hemangioblastoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of CP angle tumors associated with hearing disturbance.