Genome-wide association study on meningioma risk in Japan: a multicenter prospective study.

PURPOSE: Although meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors, their genetic etiologies have not been fully elucidated. To date, only two genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have focused on European ancestries, despite ethnic differences in the incidence of meningiomas. The aim of this study was to conduct the first GWAS of Japanese patients with meningiomas to identify the SNPs associated with meningioma susceptibility. METHODS: In this multicenter prospective case-control study, we studied 401 Japanese patients with meningioma admitted in five institutions in Japan, and 50,876 control participants of Japanese ancestry enrolled in Biobank Japan. RESULTS: The quality control process yielded 536,319 variants and imputation resulted in 8,224,735 variants on the autosomes and 224,820 variants on the X chromosomes. This GWAS eventually revealed no genetic variants with genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10 - 8) and observed no significant association in the previously reported risk variants rs11012732 and rs2686876 due to low minor allele frequency in the Japanese population. CONCLUSION: This is the first GWAS of meningiomas in East Asian populations and is expected to contribute to the development of GWAS research for meningiomas.

Successful Reperfusion with Endovascular Therapy Has Beneficial Effects on Long-Term Outcome Beyond 90 Days.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent studies have demonstrated that endovascular reperfusion therapy improves clinical outcomes at 90 days after ischemic stroke. However, the effects on long-term outcomes are not well known. We hypothesized that successful reperfusion might be associated with long-term improvement beyond 90 days after endovascular therapy. To assess the long-term effects beyond 90 days, we analyzed the association of successful reperfusion with a temporal change in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score from 90 days to 1 year after endovascular therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a database of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who received endovascular therapy between April 2006 and March 2016 at 4 centers. We compared the incidences of improvement and deterioration in patients with successful reperfusion (i.e., modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score of 2b or 3) with those in patients with unsuccessful reperfusion. We defined improvement and deterioration as decrease and increase on the mRS score by 1 point or more from 90 days to 1 year after endovascular therapy respectively. RESULTS: A total of 268 patients were included in the current study. The rate of patients with improvement tended to be higher in patients with successful reperfusion than in patients with unsuccessful reperfusion (20% [34/167 patients] vs. 12% [12/101], p = 0.07). The rate of patients with deterioration was lower in patients with successful reperfusion than in patients with unsuccessful reperfusion (25% [42/167] vs. 42% [42/101], p < 0.01). After adjustment for confounders, successful reperfusion was associated with improvement (adjusted OR 2.65; 95% CI 1.23-5.73; p < 0.05) and deterioration (adjusted OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.18-0.62; p < 0.01), independent of the 90-day mRS score. CONCLUSIONS: Successful reperfusion has further beneficial legacy effects on long-term outcomes beyond 90 days after stroke.

Clinical outcomes of brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study and a literature review.

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of systemic chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in recent years has led to the prediction that cases of brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma will increase. However, because brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma are relatively rare, the characteristics of this pathology are poorly understood. METHODS: We carried out a multicenter retrospective study to verify the characteristics of brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients were enrolled and patient characteristics were poor general condition in many patients due to the progression of primary cancers. Stereotactic radiosurgery/stereotactic radiotherapy alone was the most common treatment (39.5%), with best supportive care provided for 10.5%. Median survival was 6 months, the neurological death rate was 28%, and the rate of brain hemorrhage was high (39.5%). Overall survival was analyzed for correlations with age, etiology of chronic liver disease, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, RPA classification, control of the primary tumor, number of brain metastases, brain hemorrhage, surgical resection, and radiotherapy. In multivariate analysis, ALBI grade, number of brain metastases and brain hemorrhage showed statistically significant correlation. CONCLUSIONS: A multivariate analysis extracted three items-ALBI grade, number of brain metastases, and brain hemorrhage-as prognostic factors for survival of brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Detailed Anatomy of Bridging Veins Around the Foramen Magnum: a Multicenter Study Using Three-dimensional Angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There has been limited literature regarding the bridging veins (BVs) of the medulla oblongata around the foramen magnum (FM). The present study aims to analyze the normal angioarchitecture of the BVs around the FM using slab MIP images of three-dimensional (3D) angiography. METHODS: We collected 3D angiography data of posterior fossa veins and analyzed the BVs around the FM using slab MIP images. We analyzed the course, outlet, and number of BVs around the FM. We also examined the detection rate and mean diameter of each BV. RESULTS: Of 57 patients, 55 patients (96%) had any BV. The median number of BVs was two (range: 0-5). The BVs originate from the perimedullary veins and run anterolaterally to join the anterior condylar vein (ACV), inferior petrosal sinus, sigmoid sinus, or jugular bulb, inferolaterally to join the suboccipital cavernous sinus (SCS), laterally or posterolaterally to join the marginal sinus (MS), and posteriorly to join the MS or occipital sinus. We classified BVs into five subtypes according to the draining location: ACV, jugular foramen (JF), MS, SCS, and cerebellomedullary cistern (CMC). ACV, JF, MS, SCS, and CMC BVs were detected in 11 (19%), 18 (32%), 32 (56%), 20 (35%), and 16 (28%) patients, respectively. The mean diameter of the BVs other than CMC was 0.6 mm, and that of CMC BV was 0.8 mm. CONCLUSION: Using venous data from 3D angiography, we detected FM BVs in most cases, and the BVs were connected in various directions.

Treatment Outcomes of PED for Unruptured Aneurysms of Internal Carotid Artery: Comparison of PED-Flex and PED-Shield.

There is a lack of data regarding the safety and effectiveness of implanting the Pipeline Embolization Device with Shield technology (PED-Shield) compared with the previous generation of Pipeline (PED-Flex). This retrospective single-center study aimed to compare treatment outcomes between the PED-Shield and PED-Flex for treating unruptured internal carotid artery aneurysms. The PED-Flex was used in 62 procedures (67 aneurysms, 59 patients) and the PED-Shield in 53 procedures (59 aneurysms, 58 patients). The mean aneurysm diameter was significantly lower in the PED-Shield group than in the PED-Flex group (11.9 ± 7.0 mm vs. 15.2 ± 6.9 mm, p < 0.001). At the 12-month follow-up, the complete angiographic occlusion rate was 72.1% and 72.3% in the PED-Flex and PED-Shield groups, respectively (p = 0.9808). Limited to aneurysms larger than 10 mm, 70.6% and 68.0%, respectively (p = 0.8175). The incidence of more than three high signal intensity areas on diffusion-weighted imaging after treatment was significantly lower in the PED-Shield group than in the PED-Flex group (27.7% vs. 67.7%; p < 0.001). Limited to aneurysms larger than 10 mm, 41.1% and 69.6%, respectively (p < 0.0117). Symptomatic ischemic complications occurred within 30 days of four PED-Flex procedures (6.5%) and one PED-Shield procedure (2.0%) (p = 0.2315). Limited to aneurysms larger than 10 mm, 1.8% and 3.2%, respectively (p = 0.6677). The incidence of mRS score worsening at 6 months was 3.2% and 1.9% in the PED-Flex and PED-Shield groups, respectively (p = 0.6534). The PED-Shield can achieve outcomes equivalent to or better than the PED-Flex. Further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Unruptured Anterior Choroidal Artery Aneurysms: A Single-Center Experience.

Objective: Treatment of anterior choroidal artery (AChA) aneurysms is frequently associated with ischemic complications. This study aimed to report the outcomes of treatment of unruptured AChA aneurysms in our hospital. Methods: Between January 2015 and March 2022, 40 patients were treated for an unruptured AChA aneurysm in our hospital. Age, sex, aneurysm size, AChA branching type, treatment, occlusion rate, complications, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score before surgery and after 90 days, and recurrence were investigated. The branching type was classified as internal carotid artery (ICA), neck, or dome type based on the location of the AChA origin. Results: The mean age was 61.1 ± 1.9 years; 15 patients were men and 25 were women. The mean aneurysm diameter was 4.4 ± 0.3 mm. The branching type was ICA in four patients, neck in 35, and dome in one. Treatment was surgical clipping in 22 patients and endovascular coil embolization in 18 (14 with stent assistance). Motor-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring was used in all patients of the clipping group and 9 cases of the coiling group. Treatment complications occurred in eight patients (20%). mRS score worsened by more than one point 90 days after treatment in four patients (10%); however, the proportion of patients who experienced this did not significantly differ between the clipping and coiling groups. Although the odds of a thrombotic complication were higher with coiling than clipping, the difference was not significant (odds ratio: 10.2; P = 0.08). The rate of complete occlusion was lower in the coiling group (72.2% vs. 95.3%), but the difference was not significant. The median follow-up was 696 days (range: 99-2053). No aneurysm recurrence or rupture occurred. Conclusion: AChA branching type is important for treatment decision-making in patients with AChA aneurysms. Rates of complications and occlusion do not significantly differ between clipping and coiling of AChA aneurysms. MEP monitoring may be useful in preventing thrombotic complications during coil embolization.

Extracranial internal carotid artery-dissecting aneurysm having a re-entry tear and causing lower cranial nerve palsies treated with flow-diverting stent: A case report.

Background: Extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA)-dissecting aneurysms (DAs) rarely cause re-entry tears and lower cranial nerve palsies. The therapeutic strategies for these pathologies are not well established. This report presents a case of an extracranial ICA -DA with a re-entry tear that caused lower cranial nerve palsy. Case Description: A 60-year-old man presented with left neck pain, hoarseness, and dysphagia. Physical examination and laryngoscopy determined palsies of the left cranial nerves IX, X, and XII. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed a DA in the left extracranial ICA, and three-dimensional DSA showed entry and re-entry tears in the intimal flap. Flow-diverting stents (FDSs) were placed on the lesion that covered the entry and re-entry tears because the symptoms did not improve after five weeks of conservative treatment. A post-procedural angiogram indicated flow stagnation in the DA. Symptoms improved remarkably immediately after the procedure, and the aneurysm was almost completely occluded six months later. Conclusion: Herein, an extracranial ICA -DA with a re-entry tear that caused lower cranial nerve palsy did not improve after five weeks of conservative treatment. FDS placement promptly resolved the aneurysm and symptoms. Thus, FDS placement may be an effective treatment option for extracranial ICA-DAs with re-entry tears or lower cranial nerve palsies.

A novel predictor of ischemic complications in the treatment of ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms: Neck-branching angle.

Objective: The risk factors of procedural cerebral ischemia (CI) in ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms are unclear. This study proposed the neck-branching angle (NBA), a simple quantitative indicator of the aneurysm neck and branch vessels, and analyzed its usefulness as a predictor of procedural CI in ruptured MCA aneurysms. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 128 patients with ruptured saccular MCA aneurysms who underwent surgical or endovascular treatment between January 2014 and June 2021. We defined the NBA as the angle formed by the MCA aneurysm neck and M2 superior or inferior branch vessel line. The superior and inferior NBA were measured on admission via three-dimensional computed tomography angiography on admission. We divided the patients into clipping (106 patients) and coiling (22 patients) groups according to the treatment. Risk factors associated with procedural CI were analyzed in each group. Results: Both groups showed that an enlarged superior NBA was a significant risk factor for procedural CI (clipping, P < 0.0005; coiling group, P = 0.007). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed the closed thresholds of the superior NBA with procedural CI in both groups (clipping group, 128.5°, sensitivity and specificity of 0.667 and 0.848, respectively; coiling group, 130.9°, sensitivity and specificity of 1 and 0.889, respectively). Conclusion: The NBA can estimate the procedural risk of ruptured MCA aneurysms. In addition, an enlarged superior NBA is a risk factor for procedural CI in both clipping and coiling techniques.

Fungal symptomatic intracranial aneurysm treated with a flow diverting stent: A case report.

Background: Intracranial infectious aneurysms (IIAs) are very rare, and fungal aneurysms are infrequently reported. We report a case of an unruptured IIA caused by fungal rhinosinusitis and treated with a flow-diverting stent. Case Description: An 81-year-old woman visited the ophthalmology department with impaired eye movement and ptosis and was placed under follow-up. A week later, she also developed a headache; magnetic resonance angiography revealed an aneurysm measuring 2 mm in the C4 portion of the right internal carotid artery. A 3-week follow-up with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed an increase in its size to 10 mm, and a contrast lesion was observed surrounding the right cavernous sinus. The patient started treatment with voriconazole and steroids on the same day. Ten weeks later, despite improvements in inflammation, the size of the aneurysm was unchanged; we, therefore, treated the aneurysm with a flow-diverting stent. Oculomotor nerve palsy improved, and the patient was discharged to a rehabilitation hospital 28 days after the placement, with a modified Rankin Scale of 4. A 1-year follow-up angiogram showed a partial decrease in the size of the aneurysm, with an O'Kelly-Marotta grading scale of B3. Conclusion: IIAs grow rapidly, and the risk of rupture is high due to the weakening of the aneurysmal wall. To reduce the risks of rupture and recurrence after treatment, the infection should be treated before inserting a flow-diverting stent. Flow-diverting stent placement may be an effective treatment for IIA once the original infection has been cured.

Investigator-initiated clinical trial of stabilizer device: A novel intracranial exchange guidewire for neuroendovascular treatments.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendovascular procedures, especially those involving significant vessel tortuosity, giant intracranial aneurysms, or distally located lesions, frequently necessitate exchange methods. However, exchange maneuvers pose a risk of inadvertent vessel injury. To address these challenges, a Stabilizer device was developed and evaluated for its efficacy and safety. This clinical trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the Stabilizer device in facilitating the navigation of neuroendovascular devices to target lesions in cases where the exchange technique was necessary. METHODS: This was a single-arm, prospective, open-label, multicenter clinical trial performed at nine different sites. It focused on investigating the use of the Stabilizer device for treating intracranial aneurysms and atherosclerosis. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were enrolled across nine centers in Japan from July 21, 2022, to March 10, 2023. The study enrolled 24 (77.4%) patients with intracranial aneurysms and seven (22.6%) patients with intracranial artery stenosis. Majority of the target lesions were in the middle cerebral artery territory (83.9%). The Stabilizer device was used to exchange for 0.027-inch catheters, intermediate catheters, PTA balloons, and Wingspan stent system. The Stabilizer device demonstrated 100% technical success rate. While three complications related to the treatment were noted, there were no complications related to the device, including any vascular damage. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first multicenter clinical trial that investigated and demonstrated technical efficacy as well as overall safety profile of the Stabilizer device in neuroendovascular procedures where the use of an exchange method was necessary.

Endovascular therapy for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms: JR-NET and JR-NET2 findings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: National registration studies (the Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy [JR-NET] and JR-NET2) have determined the current status and outcomes of neuroendovascular therapy (neuro-EVT). We analyzed short-term outcomes of EVT for asymptomatic unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). METHODS: We extracted periprocedural information about EVT for 4767 asymptomatic UIAs from 31,968 registered procedural records of all EVT in the JR-NET and JR-NET2 databases. We assessed the features of the aneurysms and procedures, immediate radiographic findings, procedure-related complications, and clinical outcomes at 30 days after the procedures. RESULTS: We located 80.0% of UIAs in the anterior circulation, and the most frequent were paraclinoid. The diameter of 2.5%, 32.9%, 51.9%, 12.0%, and 0.7% of the UIAs was <3, 3 to 4, 5 to 9, 10 to 19, and >20 mm, respectively. EVT failed in only 2.1%. Adjunctive techniques were applied in 54.8% of procedures. Pre- and postprocedural antiplatelet agents were prescribed in 85.6% and 84.0%, respectively, of the procedures. The immediate radiographic outcomes of 57.7%, 31.9%, and 10.0% of the UIAs comprised complete occlusion, residual necks, and residual aneurysms, respectively. Complications that were associated with 9.1% of procedures comprised 2.0% hemorrhagic and 4.6% ischemic, and the 30-day morbidity and mortality rates were 2.12% and 0.31%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The radiographic results of EVT for asymptomatic UIAs in Japan were acceptable, with low mortality and morbidity rates.

Ischemic stroke in patients with solid gynecologic tract tumors and coagulopathy.

AIM: Patients with gynecological neoplasms often suffer ischemic stroke. This study aimed to clarify the underlying mechanisms of ischemic stroke in patients with gynecological tract tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 6 patients with gynecologic tumors and hypercoagulability who were being treated for acute ischemic stroke between 2006 and 2012. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), cardiovascular risk factors including plasma D-dimer levels, and histologic examination of the patients' solid tumors were performed. All 6 patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) and paradoxical embolism. RESULTS: All 6 patients showed elevated plasma D-dimer levels. In 1 patient, paradoxical embolism was diagnosed. In the remaining 5 patients, DW-MRI scans showed numerous lesions in multiple vascular territories, and in 4 of these 5 patients, TEE demonstrated vegetations on the mitral valve, leading to the diagnosis of NBTE. Interestingly, 2 of these 4 patients had benign uterine tumors, whereas the other 2 had ovarian cancer. CONCLUSIONS: NBTE was the main etiology for ischemic stroke in patients with gynecologic tract tumors and coagulopathy. Both malignant and benign tumors of the gynecologic tract can cause NBTE.

Stroke outcomes of Japanese patients with major cerebral artery occlusion in the post-alteplase, pre-MERCI era.

This study examined outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with major cerebral artery occlusion after the approval of intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV rt-PA) but before approval of the MERCI retriever. We retrospectively enrolled 1170 consecutive patients with AIS and major cerebral artery occlusion (496 women; mean age, 73.9 ± 12.3 years) who were admitted within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms to 12 Japanese stroke centers between October 2005 and June 2009. Cardioembolism was a leading cause of AIS in this group (68.2%). The occlusion sites of the major cerebral arteries included the common carotid artery and internal carotid artery (ICA; 29.6%), middle cerebral artery (52.2%), and basilar artery (7.6%). Recanalization therapy (RT) was performed in 32.0% of patients (IV rt-PA, 20.0%; neuroendovascular therapy, 9.4%; combined, 2.5%). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage within 36 hours with a ≥ 1-point increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score occurred in 5.3% of the patients. At 3 months (or at hospital discharge), 29.3% of the patients had a favorable outcome (based on a modified Rankin scale score of 0-2), 23.8% were bedridden, and 15.6% died. After multivariate adjustment, RT was positively associated with a favorable outcome and negatively associated with death, whereas age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and ICA occlusion were negatively associated with a favorable outcome and positively associated with death. One-third of the patients with AIS and major cerebral artery occlusion were treated with RT, which was independently associated with favorable outcomes and death. However, 40% of the patients became bedridden or died during the post-alteplase, pre-MERCI era in Japan.

Coexisting filum terminale arteriovenous fistula and filum terminale lipoma treated with single-stage surgery: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Both filum terminale arteriovenous fistulas (FTAVFs) and filum terminale lipomas (FTLs) are rare. Because of this rarity, there is a paucity of data regarding concomitant FTAVF and FTL, and the optimal treatment remains to be defined. The authors describe a patient with coexisting FTAVF and FTL treated with single-stage surgery. OBSERVATIONS: A man in his 70s was referred to the authors' department because of a suspected spinal vascular malformation seen on magnetic resonance imaging that was performed to investigate lower limb weakness, intermittent claudication, and urinary incontinence. Previous imaging had shown a terminal lipoma with an internal flow void. Computed tomography angiography and digital subtraction angiography revealed an FTAVF, the feeder being a lateral sacral artery. The patient was treated surgically with curative intent. The FTL and tethered cord that had been identified by imaging were treated in the same procedure. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography showed absence of the abnormal vessels. The patient was discharged home on the 19th postoperative day. LESSONS: When considering treatment, it is important to determine whether symptoms are attributable mainly to FTL, tethered cord, or FTAVF. One-stage treatment is useful because it eliminates both the FTAVF and the factors that led to its development.

Flow Diverter Stenting for Symptomatic Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms: Clinical Outcomes and Factors for Symptom Improvement.

Flow diverter (FD) stenting is expected to improve cranial nerve symptoms caused by aneurysms via the theoretical reduction of the mass effect by promoting spontaneous thrombosis through the flow diversion effect. However, the factors involved in symptom improvement after treatment remain unclear. This study was performed to identify factors for symptom improvement after FD stenting and the symptom improvement rate of each impaired cranial nerve. We retrospectively evaluated 33 patients who underwent FD stenting for symptomatic internal carotid artery aneurysms at our institution from January 2016 to June 2021. Twenty-three (69.7%) patients had resolved or improved symptoms after 1 year of treatment. The optic nerve was affected in 12 patients; the oculomotor nerve, in 16; the trigeminal nerve, in 2; and the abducens nerve, in 13. There was no statistically significant difference in the symptom improvement rate of each impaired cranial nerve. The patients were classified into the improved and nonimproved groups based on their symptoms after 1 year of treatment, and the factors related to the symptoms were analyzed. The time from onset to treatment was significantly shorter in the improved group than in the nonimproved group (197.1 and 800 days, respectively; p = 0.023). There were no significant differences in age, aneurysm diameter, adjunctive coil embolization, partial thrombosis, change in mass diameter on magnetic resonance imaging, or aneurysm occlusion rate on angiography between the two groups. These results suggest that early treatment after the onset of aneurysm-induced cranial neuropathies increases the likelihood of symptom improvement.

Predictors of Middle Meningeal Artery-Related Vascular Diseases Associated with Blunt Head Trauma.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic middle meningeal artery (MMA)-middle meningeal vein (MMV) fistula (MMA-MMV fistula) and MMA pseudoaneurysm are the 2 main MMA-related vascular diseases occurring after blunt head trauma. These are rare but known causes of delayed intracranial hemorrhage. This study investigated predictors that may aid in the diagnosis of these diseases. METHODS: In our department, screening digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is performed for patients with blunt head trauma accompanied by intracranial hemorrhage and skull or facial bone fracture. This study included 87 patients who underwent screening DSA without craniotomy from January 2019 to June 2023. The patients' clinical characteristics were retrospectively collected from the database. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the associations of various evaluation items with MMA-related vascular diseases. RESULTS: The first DSA examination revealed 34 MMA-MMV fistulas and 1 MMA pseudoaneurysm. The second follow-up DSA examination revealed 13 MMA-MMV fistulas and four MMA pseudoaneurysms. Temporal/parietal bone fracture (odds ratio, 5.33; P = 0.0005; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-14.60) was significantly associated with MMA-related vascular diseases. Endovascular treatments were performed in 9 patients. All procedures were successfully completed without complications; no delayed bleeding was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal/parietal bone fracture in patients with blunt head trauma is a likely predictor of MMA-related vascular diseases. When initial head computed tomography reveals this pathology, we recommend careful imaging follow-up (e.g., DSA) and treatment as needed, while considering the possibility of MMA-related vascular diseases.

Cardiac cycle-related volume change in unruptured cerebral aneurysms: a detailed volume quantification study using 4-dimensional CT angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The hemodynamic factors of aneurysms were recently evaluated using computational fluid dynamics in a static vessel model in an effort to understand the mechanisms of initiation and rupture of aneurysms. However, few reports have evaluated the dynamic wall motion of aneurysms due to the cardiac cycle. The objective of this study was to quantify cardiac cycle-related volume changes in aneurysms using 4-dimensional CT angiography. METHODS: Four-dimensional CT angiography was performed in 18 patients. Image data of 1 cardiac cycle were divided into 10 phases and the volume of the aneurysm was then quantified in each phase. These data were also compared with intracranial vessels of normal appearance. RESULTS: The observed cardiac cycle-related volume changes were in good agreement with the sizes of the aneurysms and normal vessels. The cardiac cycle-related volume changes of the intracranial aneurysms and intracranial normal arteries were 5.40%±4.17% and 4.20±2.04%, respectively, but these did not differ statistically (P=0.12). CONCLUSIONS: We successfully quantified the volume change in intracranial aneurysms and intracranial normal arteries in human subjects. The data may indicate that cardiac cycle-related volume changes do not differ between unruptured aneurysms and normal intracranial arteries, suggesting that the global integrity of an unruptured aneurysmal wall is not different from that of normal intracranial arteries.

Periprocedural cilostazol treatment and restenosis after carotid artery stenting: the Retrospective Study of In-Stent Restenosis after Carotid Artery Stenting (ReSISteR-CAS).

Restenosis after carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a critical issue. Cilostazol can reduce restenosis after interventions in coronary or femoropopliteal arteries. We investigated whether periprocedural cilostazol treatment was related to the incidence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) or target vessel revascularization (TVR) after CAS. The study group comprised 553 of 580 patients who underwent CAS between April 2003 and August 2006 and were followed for 30 months after the procedure. ISR was defined as stenosis of at least 50% detected on angiography or ultrasonography. TVR was defined as revascularization of the treated carotid artery. During CAS, 207 patients (37.4%) were treated with cilostazol. Over 30 months, ISR occurred in 23 patients (4.2%), TVR occurred in 16 patients (2.9%), and either ISR or TVR occurred in 25 patients (4.5%). The incidence of ISR or TVR was significantly lower in the cilostazol-treated group than in the untreated group (1.4% vs 6.4%; log-rank P = .006). In a multivariate analysis, cilostazol treatment (hazard ratio [HR], 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08-0.95; P = .041) and stent diameter (HR, 0.73/1-mm increase; 95% CI, 0.54-0.99; P = .044) were independent factors for the occurrence of ISR or TVR. The incidence of a composite of events, including thromboembolism, hemorrhage, death, and TVR, tended to be lower in the cilostazol-treated group than in the untreated group (15.0% vs 19.9%; log-rank P = .17). Periprocedural cilostazol treatment was associated with lower rates of ISR and retreatment after CAS. A prospective randomized controlled trial is needed to clarify the effect of cilostazol on ISR after CAS.

[Management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage].

The annual incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is approximately 20 per 100,000/ year in Japan, and it is suggested that approximately 40% of SAH patients have poor outcome. Rebleeding after SAH and delayed cerebral vasospasm are the most important causes of poor outcomes. Particularly, rebleeding significantly worsened the outcome, therefore, its prevention is of utmost importance. Preventive measures against rebleeding include open surgery and endovascular treatment without craniotomy. Selection of the measures to prevent rebleeding should be based on neurological assessment, location and shape of cerebral aneurysm, anticipated difficulties in the treatment, presence of complications, etc. At present, surgical clipping remains the method of choice in Japan. However, there has been growing acceptance that the efficacy of endovascular treatment is comparable to that of surgical treatment, suggesting endovascular treatment should be considered in suitable patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. In this report, we describe the proceedures for the standard management of SAH, in particular, treatment of ruptured cerebral aneurysm and selection of treatment measures, according to the Japanese guidelines for the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Staged treatment for ruptured wide-neck intracranial aneurysm with intentional partial coiling in the acute phase followed by definitive treatment.

Background: Evidence supports endovascular coiling for ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs). However, in some cases, it is difficult to achieve complete occlusion by coiling, such as with wide-neck aneurysms. We report our experience with intentional staged RIA treatment using targeted endovascular coiling at the rupture point in the acute phase, followed by delayed stent-assisted coiling, flow diverter stenting, or surgical clipping. Methods: Consecutive patients with RIAs treated between April 2015 and June 2021 were retrospectively investigated. Clinical characteristics, treatment complications, and patient outcomes data were collected. Results: Among 108 RIAs treated in our hospital, 60 patients underwent initial coiling; 10 patients underwent staged treatment. The aneurysm locations were the anterior communicating artery (n = 5), internal carotid-posterior communicating artery (n = 3), internal carotid-paraclinoid (n = 1), and vertebral artery-posterior inferior cerebellar artery (n = 1). The mean ± standard deviation aneurysmal diameter was 9.6 ± 5.4 mm and the mean aspect ratio was 1.2 ± 0.7. As the second treatment to obliterate blood flow to the neck area, we performed five stent-assisted coiling, two flow-diverter stentings, and three surgical clippings. Only one minor perioperative complication occurred. The median duration between the first and second treatments was 18 days (range, 14- 42 days). Good clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale score 0-2) at 90 days was achieved in 5 (50%) cases. The median follow-up duration was 6.5 months (range, 3-35 months); no rerupture occurred. Conclusion: Intentional staged treatment with a short time interval for RIA was effective and feasible.