Increased neopterin in cerebrospinal fluid in active adult neurohistiocytosis.

Diagnosis of neuro-histiocytosis is challenging and relies on clinical presentation, imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis to exclude differential diagnoses. Brain biopsy remains the gold standard for accurate diagnosis, but it is rarely performed because of the risk of the procedure and the low rentability in neurodegenerative presentation. Therefore, there is an unmet need to identify a specific biomarker for diagnosing neurohistiocytosis in adults. Because microglia (brain macrophages) is involved in the pathogenesis of neurohistiocytosis and produces neopterin secondary to aggression, the purpose of our study was to evaluate the value of the CSF neopterin levels for the diagnosis of active neurohistiocytosis. Of the 21 adult patients with histiocytosis, four patients had clinical symptoms compatible with neurohistiocytosis. In the two patients with a confirmed diagnosis of neurohistiocytosis, CSF neopterin levels were elevated as well as IL-6 and IL-10 levels. In contrast, the two other patients in whom the diagnosis of neurohistiocytosis was infirmed and all other patients with histiocytosis without active neurological disease involvement had normal CSF neopterin levels. In summary, increased CSF neopterin concentration represented a valuable tool for diagnosing active neuro-histiocytosis in adults with histiocytic neoplasms in this preliminary study.

Temporal averaging angiographic reconstructions from whole-brain CT perfusion for the detection of vasospasm.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the image quality and diagnostic performance of angiographic images reconstructed from whole-brain CT perfusion (CTP) using temporal averaging compared to CT angiography (CTA) for the detection of vasospasm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 39 CT studies in 28 consecutive patients who underwent brain CTA with CTP for suspected vasospasm between September 2020 and May 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. The image quality of these two vascular imaging techniques was assessed either quantitatively (image noise, vascular enhancement, signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios,) and qualitatively (4 criteria assessed on a 5-point scale). Intra and interobserver agreements and a diagnostic confidence score on the diagnosis of vasospasm were measured. Radiation dose parameters (volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose-length product (DLP)) were recorded. RESULTS: Both SNR and CNR were significantly higher with temporal averaging compared to CTA, increasing by 104% and 113%, respectively (p<0.001). The qualitative assessment found no significant difference in overall image quality between temporal averaging (4.33 ± 0.48) and brain CTA (4.19 ± 0.52) (p = 0.12).There was a significant improvement in intravascular noise and arterial contrast enhancement with temporal averaging. The evaluation of intra and interobserver agreements showed a robust concordance in the diagnosis of vasospasm between the two techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal averaging appeared as a feasible and reliable imaging technique for the detection of vasospasm. The use of temporal averaging, replacing brain CTA, could represent a new strategy of radiation and contrast material doses reduction in these patients.

Pre-existing brain damage and association between severity and prior cognitive impairment in ischemic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether pre-existing brain damage may explain greater severity in cognitively-impaired patients with ischemic stroke (IS). METHODS: IS patients were retrieved from the population-based registry of Dijon, France. Pre-existing damage (leukoaraiosis, old vascular brain lesions, cortical and central brain atrophy) was assessed on initial CT-scan. Association between prestroke cognitive status defined as no impairment, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia, and clinical severity at IS onset assessed with the NIHSS score was evaluated using ordinal regression analysis. Mediation analysis was performed to assess pre-existing brain lesions as mediators of the relationship between cognitive status and severity. RESULTS: Among the 916 included patients (mean age 76.8 ± 15.0 years, 54.3% women), those with pre-existing MCI (n = 115, median NIHSS [IQR]: 6 [2-15]) or dementia (n = 147, median NIHSS: 6 [3-15]) had a greater severity than patients without (n = 654, median NIHSS: 3 [1-9]) in univariate analysis (OR=1.69; 95% CI: 1.18-2.42, p = 0.004, and OR=2.06; 95% CI: 1.49-2.84, p < 0.001, respectively). Old cortical lesion (OR=1.53, p = 0.002), central atrophy (OR=1.41, p = 0.005), cortical atrophy (OR=1.90, p < 0.001) and moderate (OR=1.41, p = 0.005) or severe (OR=1.84, p = 0.002) leukoaraiosis were also associated with greater severity. After adjustments, pre-existing MCI (OR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.03-2.26, p = 0.037) or dementia (OR=1.94; 95% CI: 1.32-2.86, p = 0.001) remained associated with higher severity at IS onset, independently of confounding factors including imaging variables. Association between cognitive impairment and severity was not mediated by pre-existing visible brain damages. CONCLUSION: Impaired brain ischemic tolerance in IS patients with prior cognitive impairment could involve other mechanisms than pre-existing visible brain damage.

Endovascular management of the deep venous thrombosis: A new challenging role for the endovascular specialist in 2020.

Over the last years, the endovascular approach to the management of the acute and chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has gained more and more attention from the scientific community. DVT is the third most common cardiovascular disease after coronary heart disease and stroke, with classic treatment based on anticoagulation. Recent evidences have highlighted the risk of postthrombotic syndrome as high as 30%-50% in proximal ilio-femoral lesions, with irreversible clinical symptoms and impact on the quality of life of the population. Since 2000s, the new concept of thrombus removal in the acute phase has been supported by the introduction of different techniques based on the endovascular ablation of the clot by in-situ fibrinolysis and, more recently, fragmentation and aspiration. In the chronic phase, recanalization of the thrombosed segment is recommended by stent placement to remove the obstruction and eventually reduce the congestion. Immediate technical success of these procedures is widely satisfying, whereas the long-term clinical benefits are still debated. This paper presents an overview of the modern management of the DVT by endovascular approach with regard to the clinical contexts, interventional strategies and clinical outcomes. Endovascular specialist needs to be aware of this incoming challenge, as local expertise is demanded for the modern management of these patients in multidisciplinary theaters.

Incidence of Acute Ischemic Stroke With Visible Arterial Occlusion: A Population-Based Study (Dijon Stroke Registry).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Because of several methodological limitations, previous studies focusing on the prevalence of large vessel occlusion in ischemic stroke (IS) patients provided conflicting results. We evaluated the incidence of IS with a visible arterial occlusion using a comprehensive population-based registry. METHODS: Patients with acute IS were prospectively identified among residents of Dijon, France, using a population-based registry (2013-2017). All arterial imaging exams were reviewed to assess arterial occlusion. Annual incidence rates of IS (first-ever and recurrent events) and IS with a visible occlusion were calculated. RESULTS: One thousand sixty cases of IS were recorded (mean age: 76.0±15.8 years, 53.9% women). Information about arterial imaging was available in 971 (91.6%) of them, and only preexisting dementia was independently associated with having missing information (odds ratio=0.34 [95% CI, 0.18-0.65], P=0.001). Among these patients, 284 (29.2%) had a visible arterial occlusion. Occlusion site was the anterior circulation in 226 patients (23.3% of overall patients with available data) and the posterior circulation in 58 patients (6.0%). A proximal occlusion of the anterior circulation was observed in 167 patients (17.2%). The crude annual incidence rate of total IS per 100 000 was 138 (95% CI, 129-146). Corresponding standardized rates were 66 (95% CI, 50-82) to the World Health Organization and 141 (95% CI, 118-164) to the 2013 European populations. The crude annual incidence rate of IS with a visible arterial occlusion per 100 000 was 37 (95% CI, 33-41) and that of IS with a proximal occlusion of the anterior circulation was 22 (95% CI, 18-25). Corresponding standardized rates were 18 (95% CI, 10-26) and 10 (95% CI, 8-13) to the World Health Organization population, and 38 (95% CI, 26-50) and 23 (95% CI, 19-26) to the 2013 European population, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results will be helpful to plan the need for thrombectomy-capable stroke center resources.

Intraoperative Complications of Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms with Coiling or Balloon-assisted Coiling in a Prospective Multicenter Cohort of 1088 Participants: Analysis of Recanalization after Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysm (ARETA) Study.

Background Thromboembolic events and intraoperative rupture are the most frequent neurologic complications of intracranial aneurysm coiling. Their frequency has not been evaluated in recent series. Purpose To provide an analysis of complications, clinical outcome, and participant and aneurysm risk factors after aneurysm coiling or balloon-assisted coiling within the Analysis of Recanalization after Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysm, or ARETA, cohort. Materials and Methods Sixteen neurointerventional departments prospectively enrolled participants treated for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms between December 2013 and May 2015. Participant demographics, aneurysm characteristics, and endovascular techniques were recorded. Data were analyzed from participants within the overall cohort treated with coiling or balloon-assisted coiling for a single aneurysm. Rates of neurologic complications were analyzed, and associated factors were studied by using univariable analyses (Student t test, χ2 test, or Fisher exact test, as appropriate) and multivariable analyses (logistic regressions). Results A total of 1088 participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 54 years ± 13; 715 women [65.7%]) were analyzed. Thromboembolic events and intraoperative rupture were reported in 113 of 1088 participants (10.4%) and 34 of 1088 participants (3.1%), respectively. Poor clinical outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6) was reported in 29 of 113 participants (25.7%) with thromboembolic events and in 11 of 34 participants (32.4%) with intraoperative rupture (P = .44). Factors associated with thromboembolic events were female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1, 2.8; P = .02) and middle cerebral artery location (OR, 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.0; P = .008). Factors associated with intraoperative rupture were anterior communicating artery location (OR, 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.7; P = .03) and small aneurysm size (OR, 3.0; 95% CI: 1.5, 6.3; P = .003). Conclusion During aneurysm coiling or balloon-assisted coiling, thromboembolic events were more frequent than were intraoperative rupture. Both complications were associated with poor clinical outcome in a similar percentage of participants. Risk factors for thromboembolic events were female sex and middle cerebral artery location. Risk factors for intraoperative rupture were small aneurysm size and anterior cerebral or communicating artery location. © RSNA, 2020.

Atrial fibrillation and preexisting cognitive impairment in ischemic stroke patients: Dijon Stroke Registry.

BACKGROUND: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a common cause of ischemic stroke (IS), and is associated with cognitive impairment in the general population. We aimed to compare the prevalence of preexisting cognitive impairment between IS patients with and without AF, and to assess whether prior brain damage could contribute to the observed differences. METHODS: Patients with acute IS were prospectively identified from the population-based Dijon Stroke Registry, France. Patients who had a CT-scan as brain imaging modality were included in this analysis to assess the presence of preexisting leukoaraiosis, old vascular brain lesions, and cerebral atrophy. Characteristics of patients including prior-to-stroke cognitive status (normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia) were compared between those with and without AF. RESULTS: Among 916 IS patients, 288 (31.4 %) had AF, of whom 88 had newly diagnosed AF. AF patients had more frequent prior MCI (17.8 % versus 10.2 %) or dementia (22.4 % versus 13.1 %) (p = 0.001), vascular risk factors, and preexisting brain damage. In unadjusted model, preexisting cognitive impairment was associated with AF (OR=2.24; 95 % CI: 1.49-3.37, p < 0.001 for MCI; OR=2.20; 95 % CI: 1.52-3.18, p < 0.001 for dementia). After adjustment for clinical and imaging variables, preexisting mild cognitive impairment (OR=1.87; 95 % CI: 1.06-3.32, p = 0.032) and dementia (OR=1.98; 95 % CI: 1.15-3.40, p = 0.013) were independently associated with AF. CONCLUSION: AF is a common condition in IS patients and is associated with preexisting cognitive impairment. Brain lesions visible on imaging did not seem to fully account for this association that may involve other mechanisms yet to be elucidated.

Prevalence of major embolic findings and incidental findings on early cardiac CT in patients with suspected ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the type and prevalence of stroke and non-stroke-related findings diagnosed on early cardiac computed tomography (CT) in patients with suspected stroke. The secondary objective was to assess the clinical consequences on the management of patients with non-stroke-related conditions identified by early cardiac CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center, retrospective, observational study included 1111 consecutive patients with suspected ischemic stroke between November 2018 and March 2020 who underwent cardiac CT examination in addition to the usual brain CT protocol (i.e., non-enhanced brain CT, perfusion brain CT when needed, aortic arch and supra-aortic CT angiography, and post contrast brain CT). There were 562 women and 549 men with a median age of 74 years (range: 60-85 years). Of these, 415 (415/1111; 37.4%) patients had ischemic stroke and 692 (692/1111; 62.3%) had no stroke. Cardiac CT examinations were retrospectively reviewed for cardiac CT findings at high embolic risk and clinically significant extracardiac incidental findings. RESULTS: Among 1111 included patients, 89 (89/1111; 8.0%) had a stroke-related condition identified on early cardiac CT. This was significantly more frequent in patients with ischemic stroke (66/415; 15.9%) by comparison with those without ischemic stroke (23/696; 3.3%) (P < 0.001), with 41 patients (41/415; 9.9%) diagnosed with left atrial thrombus. Cardiac CT revealed a clinically significant non-stroke-related finding in 173 patients (173/1111; 15.6%), including 17 pulmonary embolisms (1.5%), seven suspicious pulmonary lesions (0.6%), and three breast lesions suspected to be malignant (0.3%). Twenty out of 173 patients (20/173; 11.5%) with incidental findings on early cardiac CT had a change in their management. CONCLUSION: This study shows that adding early cardiac CT to brain CT during the acute phase of an ischemic stroke leads to a higher rate of etiological diagnoses and highlights the major interest of looking at the bigger picture.

Prostate artery embolization using n-butyl cyanoacrylate glue for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: A six-month outcome analysis in 103 patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety, and 6-month outcomes of prostate artery embolization (PAE) using N-butyl-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue as the only embolic agent in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-related lower urinary tract symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with BPH-related lower urinary tract symptoms who were treated by PAE using methacryloxysulfolane-NBCA mixed with ethiodized oil (1:8 ratio) between September 2018 and January 2023 were retrospectively included. Vascular mapping was made using cone-beam computed tomography angiography. PAEs were performed as an outpatient procedure, under local anaesthesia. Outcomes were assessed at six months using the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) and associated quality-of-life score (IPSS-QoL), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate volume, and International Index of Erectile Function form 5 (IIEF5). RESULTS: A total of 103 men with a mean age of 68.4 ± 6 (standard deviation [SD]) years were included. Technical success rate was 100%. The mean fluoroscopy time was 26.4 ± 12.5 (SD) min and the median radiation dose was 23 980 mGy·cm (Q1, Q3: 16 770, 38 450). Compared to baseline, statistically significant improvements were observed at six months for the IPSS (8.9 ± 6.2 [SD] vs. 20.2 ± 6.5 [SD]; P = 0.01), IPSS-QoL (2.1 ± 1.4 [SD] vs. 5.1 ± 0.9 [SD]; P = 0.01), PSA level (3.6 ± 3.2 [SD] ng/mL vs. 4.8 ± 4.2 [SD] ng/mL; P = 0.0001), and prostate volume (78.6 ± 43.5 [SD] mL vs. 119.1 ± 65.7 [SD] mL; P = 0.01). Minor adverse events developed in 19/103 (18.4%) patients. No major complications occurred. Compared to baseline, the IIEF5 did not change significantly at six months (15.3 ± 6.8 [SD] vs. 15.8 ± 6.8 [SD]; P = 0.078). CONCLUSION: PAE with NBCA is a feasible and safe method that provides good outcomes at six months in patients with BPH-related lower urinary tract symptoms. This method deserves further evaluation in randomized trials with longer follow-up.

Blocked-flow vs. free-flow cyanoacrylate glue embolization: Histological differences in an in vivo rabbit renal artery model.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vivo animal study was to compare the acute histological effects on the arterial vessel wall of free-flow vs. blocked-flow embolization with metacryloxysulfolane-n­butyl cyanoacrylate (MS-NBCA) in several concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 42 rabbit renal arteries were embolized using MS-NBCA mixed with ethiodized oil. The MS-NBCA concentration was 12.5%, 25%, or 50%. All mixtures were injected under both free-flow and blocked-flow conditions. The rabbits were euthanised 30 min after arterial embolization. Arterial-lumen distension, intimal inflammation and necrosis, peri­arterial edema, and distality of MS-NBCA penetration were assessed histologically. Multivariable regression analyses were performed using a manual backward procedure, with linear, ordinal and logistic regression to search for factors associated with these outcomes RESULTS: Marked or severe dilatation was observed in 36 out of 42 arteries (86%) and marked or transmural intimal arteritis in all 42 arteries (42/42; 100%). Lumen dilatation caused focal vessel-wall flattening, which resulted in intimal necrosis. Multifocal necrosis extending from the intima to the media occurred in 23 out of 42 kidneys (55%) and peri­arterial edema with multifocal vascular leakage in 19 out of 42 kidneys (45%). At multivariable analysis, blocked-flow MS-NBCA injection was associated with greater severity of vessel-wall lesions, including intimal arteritis (P = 0.003) and intimal necrosis (P = 0.014), compared to free-flow injection. Blocked-flow injection was also associated with peri­arterial edema (P = 0.008) and greater distality of MS-NBCA penetration (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Blocked-flow MS-NBCA injection during renal artery embolization is significantly associated with more acute arterial-wall damage and greater distality of glue penetration compared to free-flow injection in a rabbit model. These preliminary findings may have clinical implications, as blocked-flow injection is routinely used to treat specific vascular diseases or malformations in human.

Endovascular Parent Vessel Occlusion Versus Flow Diversion in the Treatment of Large and Giant Aneurysms: A Randomized Comparison.

OBJECTIVE: Parent vessel occlusion (PVO) is a time-honored treatment for unclippable or uncoilable intracranial aneurysms. Flow diversion (FD) is a recent endovascular alternative that can occlude the aneurysm and spare the parent blood vessel. Our aim was to compare outcomes of FD with endovascular PVO. METHODS: This is a prespecified treatment subgroup analysis of the Flow diversion in Intracranial Aneurysms trial (FIAT). FIAT was an investigator-led parallel-group all-inclusive pragmatic randomized trial. For each patient, clinicians had to prespecify an alternative management option to FD before stratified randomization. We report all patients for whom PVO was selected as the best alternative treatment to FD. The primary outcome was a composite of core-lab determined angiographic occlusion or near-occlusion at 3-12 months combined with an independent clinical outcome (mRS<3). Primary analyses were intent-to-treat. There was no blinding. RESULTS: There were 45 patients (16.2% of the 278 FIAT patients randomized between 2011 and 2020 in 3 centers): 22 were randomly allocated to FD and 23 to PVO. Aneurysms were mainly large or giant (mean 22 mm) anterior circulation (mainly carotid) aneurysms. A poor primary outcome was reached in 11/22 FD (50.0%) compared to 9/23 PVO patients (39.1%) (RR: 1.28, 95% CI [0.66-2.47]; P = 0.466). Morbidity (mRS >2) at 1 year occurred in 4/22 FD and 6/23 PVO patients. Angiographic results and serious adverse events were similar. CONCLUSIONS: The comparison between PVO and FD was inconclusive. More randomized trials are needed to better determine the role of FD in large aneurysms eligible for PVO.

Conservative management of brain arteriovenous malformations: results of the prospective observation registry of a pragmatic trial.

OBJECTIVE: Many patients recruited in the Treatment of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations Study (TOBAS) are managed conservatively. The aim of this study was to monitor what happened to those patients. METHODS: TOBAS comprises two randomized controlled trials and multiple prospective registries. All patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can participate. This report concerns patients selected for conservative management. The primary trial outcome measure is related death or dependency (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score > 2) at 10 years. Secondary outcomes include intracranial hemorrhages, nonhemorrhagic neurological events, and serious adverse events (SAEs). For this report, outcome results are presented using patient-years, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and Cox log-rank tests. There was no blinding. RESULTS: From June 2014 to May 2021, 1010 patients were recruited, of whom 498 (49%) were proposed the prospective observation registry. After exclusions, 434 (87%) patients remained for analysis. The majority of patients had unruptured AVMs (378/434 [87%]), of which 195 (52%) were low grade (Spetzler-Martin grade I or II). During a mean follow-up period of 3.2 years (total 1368 patient-years), the primary outcome occurred in 23 of 434 (5%) patients, corresponding to an incidence of 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.5) per 100 patient-years. For unruptured AVMs the incidence was 1.1 (95% CI 0.7-1.9) per 100 patient-years, and for low-grade unruptured AVMs it was 0.6 (95% CI 0.2-1.7) per 100 patient-years. Poor outcomes were more frequent in patients with a history of rupture (HR 5.6 [95% CI 2.4-13.0], p < 0.001), infratentorial AVMs (HR 2.9 [95% CI 1.1-7.3], p = 0.027), and age ≥ 55 years (HR 3.2 [95% CI 1.4-7.6], p = 0.007). Major intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 35 of 434 (8%) patients (incidence of 2.6 [95% CI 1.9-3.6] per 100 patient-years; 2.0 [95% CI 1.3-2.9] per 100 patient-years for unruptured AVMs and 1.3 [95% CI 0.6-2.6] per 100 patient-years for low-grade unruptured AVMs). Major AVM hemorrhages were more frequent in ruptured (HR 4.4 [95% CI 2.1-8.9], p < 0.001), large (HR 2.6 [95% CI 1.1-6.6], p = 0.039), and high-grade (HR 2.5 [95% CI 1.2-5.3], p = 0.013) AVMs and those with deep venous drainage (HR 2.1 [95% CI 1.1-4.2], p = 0.032). SAEs occurred in 48 of 434 (11%) patients (incidence of 3.6 [95% CI 2.7-4.8] per 100 patient-years). For unruptured AVMs the incidence was 2.8 (95% CI 2.0-4.0) per 100 patient-years, and for low-grade unruptured AVMs it was 1.8 (95% CI 1.0-3.2) per 100 patient-years. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of TOBAS participants were observed. Rates of untoward neurological events were within expected boundaries.

Selective Arterial Embolization of Pseudoaneurysms and Arteriovenous Fistulas after Partial Nephrectomy: Safety, Efficacy, and Mid-Term Outcomes.

The primary objective was to evaluate the clinical success rate after endovascular embolization of iatrogenic vascular lesions caused during partial nephrectomy. The secondary objective was to evaluate the technical success and to assess potential effects on renal function. We retrospectively included consecutive patients from our center who underwent selective embolization to treat iatrogenic renal arterial lesions induced during partial nephrectomy between June 2010 and June 2020. The technical and clinical success rates and renal outcomes were collected. We identified 25 patients with 47 pseudoaneurysms and nine arteriovenous fistulas. Among them, eight were treated by coils only, eight by liquid embolization agents only, and nine by both. The technical success rate was 96% after the first attempt and 100% after the second attempt. The median follow-up was 27.1 ± 24.3 months. Clinical success, defined as no need for further hemostatic surgery during follow-up, was also obtained in 96% and 100% of patients with one and two attempts, respectively. Renal function estimated by the modification of diet in renal disease equation did not change significantly despite a mean 13.8% ± 15.1% decrease in kidney functional volume estimated by angiography. No complications were attributable to the endovascular treatment. No significant difference was found across embolization agents; however, the subgroup sizes were small. Endovascular embolization is safe and effective for treating iatrogenic arterial lesions after partial nephrectomy: success rates are high, complications are infrequent, and renal function is maintained. Recommendations by interventional radiology societies are needed to standardize this treatment.

Interventional Radiology for High-Flow Aneurysm of the Pancreaticoduodenal Arcades with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome: Review of 14 Patients.

Transarterial embolization (TAE) for high-flow pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA) aneurysms in patients with celiac-trunk stenosis by the median arcuate ligament (MAL) has been found effective both after rupturing and to prevent rupture. The objective was to describe the TAE techniques used and their effectiveness in excluding PDA aneurysms due to MAL syndrome. This single-center retrospective study done at the Dijon-Bourgogne University Hospital included all patients treated by TAE in 2010-2022 for ruptured or unruptured high-flow PDA aneurysms caused by MAL syndrome. We identified 14 patients (7 women and 7 men; mean age, 64 years). Packing and trapping techniques were used alone or together. Occlusion was with microcoils, co-polymer, or cyanoacrylate glue, used separately or combined. Technical success was achieved in 13 (93%) patients. Clinical success was achieved in 12 (86%) patients. One major and two minor complications were recorded within the first 30 days. No complications occurred after 30 days. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 84 months. No cases of aneurysm recanalization have been recorded to date. TAE had high technical and clinical success rates in our patients with unruptured or ruptured PDA aneurysms due to MAL syndrome.

Iodixanol as a New Contrast Agent for Cyanoacrylate Embolization: A Preliminary In Vivo Swine Study.

N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) is a lipophilic, permanent embolic glue that must be opacified for fluoroscopic guidance. Empirically, lipophilic Lipiodol Ultra Fluid® (LUF) has been added to produce a single-phase physically stable mixture. Varying the dilution ratio allows control of glue polymerization kinetics. LUF is far more costly than water-soluble iodinated contrast agents (ICAs). Our purpose was to evaluate whether a water-soluble nonionic iso-osmolar ICA could be used instead. We embolized both renal arteries of six swine using 1:3 NBCA-LUF or NBCA-iodixanol in 1:1, 1:3, and 1:7 ratios. We used both micro-computed tomography to assess the distality of glue penetration and indexed cast ratio and histology to assess distality, arterial obliteration, vessel-wall damage, and renal-parenchyma necrosis. Glue-LUF produced significantly greater indexed cast ratio and renal-artery ROI values and a significantly shorter cast-to-capsule distance. The injected volume was significantly greater with 1:7 iodixanol than with the other mixtures. No significant differences were found for histological evidence of artery obliteration, vessel-wall damage, or renal-parenchyma necrosis. This is the first study dealing with ICA alone as a contrast agent for cyanoacrylate embolization, compared to LUF. More research is needed to determine whether water-soluble nonionic iodinated agents can be used for human NBCA embolization given the good safety profile, availability, and low cost of ICA.

Incremental value of the combined brain-cardiac CT protocol on prediction of atrial fibrillation after stroke.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common causes of ischemic stroke. It is essential to target patients at highest risk of AF detected after stroke (AFDAS), who should benefit from a prolonged rhythm screening strategy. Cardiac-CT angiography (CCTA) was added to the stroke protocol used in our institution in 2018. We sought to assess, for AFDAS, the predictive value of atrial cardiopathy markers by a CCTA performed on admission for acute ischemic stroke. Patients and Methods: From November 2018 to October 2019, consecutive stroke patients with no history of AF were included. Let atrial volume (LAV), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) attenuation and volume, and LAA characteristics were measured on CCTA. The primary endpoint was the presence of AFDAS at follow-up, diagnosed by continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, long-term external Holter monitoring during hospital stay, or implantable cardiac monitor (ICM). Results: Sixty of the 247 included patients developed AFDAS. Multivariable analysis shows independent predictors of AFDAS: age >80 years (HR 2.46; 95%CI (1.23-4.92), p = 0.011), indexed LAV >45 mL/m2 (HR 2.58; 95%CI (1.19-5.62), p = 0.017), EAT attenuation > -85HU (HR 2.16; 95%CI (1.13-4.15), p = 0.021) and LAA thrombus (HR 2.50; 95%CI (1.06-5.93), p = 0.037). Added consecutively to AFDAS prediction AS5F score (combining age and NIHSS >5), these markers had an incrementally better predictive value compared with the global Chi2 of the initial model (p = 0.001, 0.035, and 0.015 respectively). Discussion and conclusion: Adding CCTA to the acute stroke protocol to assess markers of atrial cardiopathy associated with AFDAS may help to better stratify the AF screening strategy, including the use of an ICM.

Deep Learning-Based Reconstruction vs. Iterative Reconstruction for Quality of Low-Dose Head-and-Neck CT Angiography with Different Tube-Voltage Protocols in Emergency-Department Patients.

Objective: To compare the image quality of computed tomography angiography of the supra-aortic arteries (CTSA) at different tube voltages in low doses settings with deep learning-based image reconstruction (DLR) vs. hybrid iterative reconstruction (H-IR). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 102 patients who underwent CTSA systematically reconstructed with both DLR and H-IR. We assessed the image quality both quantitatively and qualitatively at 11 arterial segmental levels and 3 regional levels. Radiation-dose parameters were recorded and the effective dose was calculated. Eighty-six patients were eligible for analysis Of these patients, 27 were imaged with 120 kVp, 30 with 100 kVp, and 29 with 80 kVp. Results: The effective dose in 120 kVp, 100 kVp and 80 kVp was 1.5 ± 0.4 mSv, 1.1 ± 0.3 mSv and 0.68 ± 0.1 mSv, respectively (p < 0.01). Comparing 80 kVp + DLR vs. 120 and 100 kVp + H-IR CT scans, the mean overall arterial attenuation was about 64% and 34% higher (625.9 ± 118.5 HU vs. 382.3 ± 98.6 HU and 468 ± 118.5 HU; p < 0.01) without a significant difference in terms of image noise (17.7 ± 4.9 HU vs. 17.5 ± 5.2; p = 0.7 and 18.1 ± 5.4; p = 0.3) and signal-to-ratio increased by 59% and 33%, respectively (37.9 ± 12.3 vs. 23.8 ± 9.7 and 28.4 ± 12.5). This protocol also provided superior image quality in terms of qualitative parameters, compared to standard-kVp protocols with H-IR. Highest subjective image-quality grades for vascular segments close to the aorta were obtained with the 100 kVp + DLR protocol. Conclusions: DLR significantly reduced image noise and improved the overall image quality of CTSA with both low and standard tube voltages and at all vascular segments. CT that was acquired with 80 kVp and reconstructed with DLR yielded better overall image quality compared to higher kVp values with H-IR, while reducing the radiation dose by half, but it has limitations for arteries that are close to the aortic arch.

Acute myocardial infarction related to coronary artery embolism: A systematic cardiac and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery embolism (CAE) is a rare, non-atherosclerotic cause of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cause of CAE, and can be associated with multiple embolisms, particularly in the brain. AIMS: To characterize CAE-related myocardial injury, assess the proportion of cardiocerebral infarction and characterize brain injuries associated with dual embolism. METHODS: In this prospective study, patients with CAE-associated MI underwent (1) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the extent of infarct transmurality and myocardial necrosis size and (2) brain MRI to assess the proportion of simultaneous cardiocerebral infarction. We screened 1401 consecutive patients with de novo acute MI from January 2019 to June 2021. CAE was diagnosed based on clinical, angiographic and diagnostic imaging criteria. RESULTS: Overall, 29/1401 patients presented with CAE (2.1%), of whom 21 underwent cardiac and cerebral MRI. Of these, nine (43%) had an ischaemic stroke, and AF was the leading cause of CAE in 14 patients (67%). Multiple CAE were common at coronary angiography (33%). Four patients (19%) had left atrial appendage thrombus - 4/9 patients (44%) with a stroke but 0/12 patients without a stroke. On cardiac MRI, the median (interquartile range) number of segments with acute infarction was 3 (0-11) in patients with stroke and 3 (1-6) in those without. Most acute ischaemic strokes (78%) were localized in the superficial sylvian territory and only 2/21 patients (10%) had stroke sequelae. CONCLUSION: MI-related to CAE was associated with infarctions of average size but multiple locations. Systematic brain MRI revealed that 33% of cases were associated with a stroke, which was generally asymptomatic. Further studies are required to better characterize the pathophysiology, clinical course and prognostic value of CAE. Moreover, optimal management strategies remain to be determined.

Dramatic Efficacy of Interferon and Vemurafenib on Psychiatric Symptoms Revealing BRAFV600E -Mutated Erdheim-Chester Disease: A Case Report.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare condition with underestimated neurological involvement. Mild psychiatric symptoms such as mood swings have been rarely described in the clinical spectrum of neuro-ECD. We here describe the first patient with psychiatric manifestations of delirium revealing ECD with neurological involvement with favorable evolution under interferon followed by BRAF inhibitor monotherapy. An 81-year-old woman was referred to the hospital because of delirium and severe cognitive impairment associated with a cerebellar syndrome. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed "FLAIR-changes" lesions in the pons and upper cerebellum peduncles. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses showed normal results except for an elevated neopterin level in the CSF. Whole-body CT scan (18FDG-PET) showed peri-nephric fat infiltration and aorta adventitia sheathing with radiotracer uptake in the pons, vessels, peri-nephric fat, and bone lesions, which was characteristic of ECD. The diagnosis was confirmed on perirenal tissue biopsy, which also showed a BRAFV600E mutation. Treatment with interferon resulted in the resolution of delirium, and treatment with BRAF inhibitor subsequently resulted in a partial remission of all active sites. This case highlights that delirium can be the first manifestation of neurodegenerative ECD. ECD should be screened in unexplained psychiatric features as interferon and targeted therapy appear to be effective in this situation.