[Cost Comparison of Carotid Endarterectomy versus Carotid Stenting in Japan].

Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been covered by the health insurance system in Japan since 2008. There have been few studies concerning medical costs and charges for patients who received CEA or CAS in Japan. The aim of this study was to elucidate the difference in the costs between the patients who received CEA and those who received CAS in Japan. Between 2010 and 2011, 19 patients who received CEA and 20 patients who received CAS were retrospectively reviewed. Age, sex, symptomatic/asymptomatic, emergent/scheduled, length of stay, outcome, cost for the procedure (professional fee), supply for the operation, the total medical service fee, and copayment of the patients was compared between the two treatment groups. No significant difference was detected between the two groups except for the supply of the operation and the total medical service fee (CEA:mean 1,565,580 yen vs CAS 2,758,360 yen, p=0.0001). On the other hand, no significant difference was obtained in the copayment of the patients (CEA 71,895 yen, CAS 72,458 yen). Even when limited to the scheduled cases, similar results were obtained. There is a monthly copayment limit in the health insurance system in Japan, which results in a reasonable charge for patients who received CAS, despite the fact that the rest of the fee including high costs for the supplies was paid by the company and the nation. To reduce the medical costs, Japanese have to be aware of the high costs in CAS, most of which is due to the supplies.

Fibro-fatty volume of culprit lesions in Virtual Histology intravascular ultrasound is associated with the amount of debris during carotid artery stenting.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the amount of aspirated debris during distal balloon-protected carotid artery stenting (CAS) and the pre-intervention plaque composition, as assessed by Virtual Histology (VH) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). METHODS: The study subjects were 25 consecutive patients (mean age, 73.0 +/- 5.2 years; 20 males and 5 females) who underwent CAS under distal balloon protection. The average rate of carotid stenosis was 74.6 +/- 12.9% by North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial criteria. We assessed culprit plaque components by VH-IVUS before CAS. Aspirated debris was filtered, stained with HE and mounted onto glass slides. The quantity of debris was evaluated by measuring its surface area. We evaluated the relationship between the quantity of aspirated debris and VH-IVUS measurements before CAS. RESULTS: The amount of debris during CAS was positively correlated with the total plaque volume in grayscale IVUS (Rs = 0.480, p = 0.015) and fibro-fatty volumes over the entire lesion length in VH-IVUS (Rs = 0.561, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Culprit lesions with large plaque volumes, especially larger fibro-fatty volumes, as imaged by VH-IVUS, are associated with large amounts of debris during balloon-protected CAS.

Angioplasty and stent deployment in acute sinus thrombosis following endovascular treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulae.

We report on the successful treatment of acute sinus thrombosis associated with endovascular treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVF) by sinus angioplasty with stent deployment. A 76-year-old man presented with intracerebral hemorrhage, Cognard type IIa+b DAVF of the left sigmoid sinus, and type IIa DAVF of the torcular herophili. During transvenous sinus embolization, acute thrombosis of the stenotic lesion in the left transverse sinus occurred. The thrombosis caused isolated sinus and cortical venous reflux (CVR). The patient was treated by stent-supported sinus angioplasty, which led to an immediate improvement of the sinus thrombosis and associated CVR.

[Spontaneous improvement of idiopathic intracranial carotid artery dissection: a case report].

We report a rare case of spontaneous intracranial carotid artery dissection presenting with multiple infarctions. A 65-year-old man became aware of transient visual disturbance in the right eye and headache. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at a local neurosurgical clinic depicted fresh multiple infarctions of the right cerebral hemisphere along with severe right carotid artery stenosis and delayed cerebral blood flow on the right side. The patient was transferred to our hospital. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) showed an intimal flap in the righ petrous internal carotid artery and we diagnosed spontaneous intracranial carotid artery dissection of the petrous portion. We started conservative therapy including anti-coagulant and antiplatelet drug and blood pressure control. Two weeks after admission, angiography, 3D-CT, MR angiography demonstrated that the dissection had improved and the patient was discharged without neurological deficit. In this case, 3D-CT was effective for the diagnosis of intracranial carotid artery dissection. We report this rare case along with a literature review of the clinical profile and related neuroimaging findings.

Different modalities of treatment of intracranial mycotic aneurysms: Report of 4 cases.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial mycotic aneurysms, although rare neurovascular pathology, represented a neurosurgical challenge that required careful stepwise decision making. Different approaches for their management were used. We present our experience with 4 patients treated in terms of indications and efficacy of different treatment modalities. METHODS: Four patients with infective endocarditis and 5 intracranial mycotic aneurysms were treated during the last 5 years. All of the patients were men; their ages ranged between 29 and 62 years (mean, 47.3 years). Distal MCA was the commonest site (3 patients) of aneurysm, 1 was located at the distal PCA, whereas the remaining aneurysm was at the distal ACA. Angiographic studies were done in 2 patients because of neurologic signs and for screening in 2 patients with documented endocarditis. RESULTS: One patient was treated conservatively because of his moribund general condition; 1 patient was treated with direct surgical clipping; 1 patient was treated with surgical trapping and resection of the aneurysm without revascularization; and the remaining patient, harboring 2 distal mycotic aneurysms, was treated with selective embolization for his PCA aneurysm and endovascular trapping for the distal ACA aneurysm. Follow-up angiographic results showed stable occlusion of the aneurysms. No periprocedural technical complications were reported, and none of the patients, including the patient with medical treatment only, has ever experienced new neurologic events after definitive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged courses of antibiotics are recommended for all patients with mycotic aneurysms. Selective endovascular embolization or trapping with soft and ultrasoft electrolytically detachable coils seems to be an effective technique that should be considered for treatment of dynamic unruptured mycotic aneurysms, with conventional surgical repair restricted for ruptured aneurysms with associated hematoma and high intracranial pressure.

Endovascular embolization vs surgical clipping in treatment of cerebral aneurysms: morbidity and mortality with short-term outcome.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular embolization of cerebral aneurysms has evolved rapidly worldwide within the last years, and has gained more popularity at the expense of surgical clipping; however, both regimens have inherent risks. This study was undertaken to asses the cerebral complications associated with both modalities of cerebral aneurysm treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts, operative and embolization reports, and imaging of patients who underwent surgical clipping or embolization for cerebral aneurysms at our institution between October 2001 and October 2004. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A, patients who had confirmed subarachnoid hemorrhage; group B, patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Patients belonging to group A were evaluated according to the Hunt and Hess scale with their computed tomography scan evaluated according to Fisher scale. Short-term outcome was measured with Glasgow Outcome Scale for both groups. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-three patients with 168 aneurysms were treated; 95 (71.4%) were women and 38 (28.6%) men; mean age was 60.28 years. Hypertension (29.6%) was the most commonly encountered risk factor; average size of aneurysms treated was 7.21 mm; 53 patients belonged to group A. Seven patients were Hunt and Hess grade I, 23 grade II, 11 grade III, 7 grade IV, and 5 grade V. Eighty patients belonged to group B; for both groups, the periprocedural technical complication rate associated with coiling was 8.4% vs 19.35% with clipping. Follow-up angiographic results were better with clipping, as total aneurysm occlusion was 81.4% vs 57.5% with coiling. In group A, the incidence of angiographic vasospasm was 17.4% vs 45.4% with coiling vs clipping, whereas the incidence of shunt-dependant hydrocephalus was comparable with embolization and clipping. In group A, excellent outcome was achieved in 62% vs 44% (endovascular vs surgical) of subgroups, whereas in group B, it was 93% vs 81%, respectively. CONCLUSION: With rapidly evolving technology of endovascular embolization, accumulated experience, and good selection of patients with optimum angioanatomical criteria and endovascular accessibility, our results of morbidity and mortality associated with both modalities of cerebral aneurysm treatment with short-term outcome show that endovascular embolization of cerebral aneurysms is a safe alternative to surgical clipping in the treatment of both ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms; however, long-term outcome needs to be evaluated.

Tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula presenting symptoms due to mass effect on the dilated draining vein: case report.

BACKGROUND: Tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) presented symptoms due to mass effect on the dilated draining vein. We report a patient presenting left hemisensory disturbance because of compression of the midbrain by a dilated draining vein of the AVF. The AVF has disappeared completely by drainer clipping after feeder embolization. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 66-year-old woman presented with left hemisensory disturbance due to compression of the midbrain by a dilated draining vein with tentorial dural AVF. On admission, she complained of left hemisensory disturbance. Enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance angiogram revealed the midbrain compressed by a mass lesion, which was a draining vein with AVF fed by numerous feeding arteries neighboring the right tentorial edge. The single-photon emission CT (SPECT) did not depict any laterality. CONCLUSION: This is a rare case of a tentorial dural AVF which caused left hemisensory disturbance not by venous congestion, but by a compression of the midbrain by the dilated draining vein, because SPECT showed no laterality. In this case, magnetic resonance angiogram, 3-dimensional CT angiography, and SPECT were useful in the diagnosis and planning the strategy for treatment.

Choroidal fissure acts as an overflow device in cerebrospinal fluid drainage: morphological comparison between idiopathic and secondary normal-pressure hydrocephalus.

To clarify the pathogenesis of two different types of adult-onset normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), we investigated cerebrospinal fluid distribution on the high-field three-dimensional MRI. The subarachnoid spaces in secondary NPH were smaller than those in the controls, whereas those in idiopathic NPH were of similar size to the controls. In idiopathic NPH, however, the basal cistern and Sylvian fissure were enlarged in concurrence with ventricular enlargement towards the z-direction, but the convexity subarachnoid space was severely diminished. In this article, we provide evidence that the key cause of the disproportionate cerebrospinal fluid distribution in idiopathic NPH is the compensatory direct CSF communication between the inferior horn of the lateral ventricles and the ambient cistern at the choroidal fissure. In contrast, all parts of the subarachnoid spaces were equally and severely decreased in secondary NPH. Blockage of CSF drainage from the subarachnoid spaces could cause the omnidirectional ventricular enlargement in secondary NPH.

Occlusion of the vertebral artery secondary to dissection of the subclavian artery--case report.

A 34-year-old man presented with occlusion of the left vertebral artery (VA) secondary to dissection of the left subclavian artery manifesting as vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and neck pain. On admission, he was alert with left limb and truncal ataxia. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography showed left cerebellar infarction and occlusion of the left VA. Conventional angiography and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) angiography showed stenosis with thrombosed pseudo-lumen of the left subclavian artery, and occlusion of the left VA. Presumably the idiopathic dissection of the left subclavian artery had reached the orifice of the left VA, and an embolism from the dissection had caused occlusion of the VA, leading to cerebellar infarction. After one month, he was discharged without severe neurological deficits. Idiopathic dissection of the subclavian artery is very rare. 3D-CT angiography is very useful for the diagnosis of arterial dissection.

Intrathecal and intraperitoneal germinomas occurring 20 years after total removal of a pineal teratoma. Case report.

In 1980, a 10-year-old boy was admitted to the authors' hospital with consciousness disturbance and vomiting. Computerized tomography (CT) scans revealed a pineal mass lesion and hydrocephalus. The tumor was totally removed and a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was inserted. Histological investigation of a surgical specimen revealed that it was a teratoma. Five years later, the patient was readmitted to the same institution with polyuria. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a mass lesion in the suprasellar region. The patient received systemic chemotherapy, and the tumor disappeared; however, 2 years after the chemotherapy, MR imaging demonstrated a right lateral ventricular mass. The tumor was totally resected, and histopathological investigation revealed a teratocarcinoma. Three years after the chemotherapy, CT scanning revealed suprasellar and right lateral ventricular tumor recurrences, for which the patient received irradiation and chemotherapy. The tumors disappeared and the patient achieved complete remission that lasted longer than 10 years. On January 25, 2000, however, he noticed hip pain. Lumbar MR imaging demonstrated a spinal tumor below L-4 and also an abdominal tumor. The abdominal tumor was totally removed, and the histological findings identified it as a germinoma. The patient received systemic chemotherapy and the tumor disappeared completely. The authors believe that the suprasellar tumor was a metachronous germinoma and that it had metastasized through the intrathecal route and the VP shunt.

[Therapeutic strategy and outcome of stenting for subclavian and innominate artery occlusive disease].

We performed stenting for the subclavian artery (SA) and innominate artery occlusive disease in 14 patients between April, 2000 and March, 2003. In 13 of 14 patients, good dilatation was obtained with stenting. In one patient with left SA occlusion, true lumen could not be detained from either proximal or distal sides of the occluded lesion, so stent deployment was not performed. From June, 2002, we performed stenting using combined femoral and brachial approaches in 6 of 8 patients. In patients in whom occlusive lesion existed in the proximal portion of the SA, it was useful strategy to create a "pull-through" system to stabilize the guiding catheter position in the aorta or the proximal portion of the SA, and to protect the vertebral artery (VA) with a balloon catheter. Post-operative morbidity was 0%. Restenosis was manifested in one patient (8%) two years after stent placement, and in-stent PTA was carried out. In stenting for the subclavian and innominate arteries, the pull-through system is considered useful for stabilization of the guiding catheter, and protection of the VA for prevention of distal embolism to the VA.

[Comparison of the findings of multislice CT and angiography after stenting for supraaortic arteries].

We compared the findings of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) with angiography after stenting for supraaortic arteries. Twelve cases that underwent both MSCT and angiography were evaluated. In 4 cases, stenotic findings were shown by neither MSCT nor angiography. Lumen diameters measured by MSCT tended to be shorter than those measured by angiography. In-stent stenosis evaluated by MSCT was found in 6 cases, and all of them revealed low density areas in the inner stent lumen. In 4 of them, intimal hyperplasia was indicated by angiography, but in 2 of them, unexpectedly, no stenotic findings were found by angiography. In one case, using MSCT the part two stents partially lying over one another revealed severe artifact in the inner stent lumen, but no stenosis was found by angiography. In 2 cases, unevenly spread extra-stent space was found, but that was not revealed by angiography. We conclude that MSCT is useful to evaluate lumen diameter, in-stent intimal hyperplasia, in-stent thrombus, and extra-stent space.

[Multiple intracranial aneurysms and vascular abnormalities associated with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case report].

We present an unusual case of multiple intracranial aneurysms, persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA), and fenestration of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), associated with type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF 1). The patient was a 55-year-old woman in a state of semicoma. We observed widespread neurofibromas and café au lait spots on her trunk and limbs. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage and right frontal intracerebral hemorrhage (WFNS grade IV, Fisher's classification group 4). Cerebral angiography showed two intracranial aneurysms at the anterior communicating artery, an aneurysm at the cavernous portion of the right carotid artery, a PPTA, and MCA fenestration. The patient remained in an apallic state, even after successful clipping of the anterior communicating artery aneurysms.

[A case report of a scalp dermoid cyst containing watery-clear fluid].

We report a case of a 7-month-old female with a dermoid cyst on the anterior fontanelle. She was born with a vacuum extractor. Two weeks later, her scalp on the anterior fontanelle bulged. A doctor was consulted when she was 3 months old, because the tumor was enlarging. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed a cystic mass on the anterior fontanelle. She was brought to our institute. At the first medical examination, she was alert and had no neurological deficit. The tumor was suspected to be a sinus pericranii or a pseudo meningocele. She was observed as an out patient, but the tumoral size become more enlarged. When she was seven months old, we punctured the cystic tumor and the tumor collapsed. But, two weeks later, it enlarged again. The cystic fluid was watery clear and the composition differed from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The tumor was resected totally. The histological examination revealed a dermoid cyst which involved ducts of the eccrine glands and folliculi pili. The cystic fluid was thought to be secreted from the eccrine glands.

Interventional neuroradiological techniques for the treatment of aneurysms of the supra-aortic extracranial arteries.

Aneurysms in the supra-aortic extracranial arteries are rare in neurovascular pathology. Conventional surgery is effective but technically demanding and successful endovascular repair is reported. We treated 5 patients with supra-aortic extracranial artery aneurysms at our hospital (mean age 53.8 years). There were 2 aneurysms of the common carotid artery, 1 of the extracranial internal carotid artery, 1 of the subclavian artery, and 1 located at the innominate artery. Four patients were symptomatic. The lesion was the result of trauma in 3 patients. The procedure was conducted using bare stent placement and coil embolization of the aneurysm in 2 patients, covered stent in 2 patients, and bare stent only in 1 patient. No periprocedural complications occurred. Follow-up angiography revealed asymptomatic stent thrombosis in a patient treated using a covered stent, but the remaining 4 patients showed successful treatment of the aneurysms with the parent arteries remaining patent. Follow-up clinical assessment ranged between 30 and 81 months. The patient with stent thrombosis died of unrelated pathology; the remaining patients did not experience aneurysm recurrence, hemorrhage, or distal thromboembolism.

Intraoperative stenting for brachiocephalic and carotid artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular stenting is an alternative treatment for brachiocephalic artery stenosis, replacing standard surgical approaches such as carotid endarterectomy. However, a percutaneous approach may be difficult because various conditions such as severe arteriosclerosis of iliac or femoral arteries and aortic disease. We report our experience with intraoperative stenting for these lesions, presenting indications, strategy, and results. METHODS: Seven patients underwent intraoperative stent placement via an open cervical approach. The sites of lesions included 1 innominate artery, 1 common carotid artery, and 5 cervical carotid arteries. Stenting was performed with a sheath introducer placed through a surgically exposed common carotid artery via a small skin incision or common carotid artery exposed for simultaneously performed carotid endarterectomy. Distal protection was used in 6 patients with an endovascular protective balloon or external clamping with forceps. RESULTS: Sufficient dilation of stenosis was obtained in all cases. No complications such as transient ischemic attack, cerebral infarction, and hyperperfusion were encountered. Wound hematoma was not experienced despite perioperative antiplatelet therapy and heparinization during the procedure. Angiographic follow-up over 1 year showed no restenosis in 5 available patients. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative stenting may be an excellent alternative for patients in whom both direct surgical approach and standard percutaneous endovascular approach are not possible.

Ca2+ entry channels involved in contractions of rat aorta induced by endothelin-1, noradrenaline, and vasopressin.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been shown to activate three types of Ca2+ channel, namely two Ca2+-permeable nonselective cation channels (designated NSCC-1 and NSCC-2) and a store-operated Ca2+ channel (SOCC), and that these channels can be discriminated by Ca2+ channel blockers such as LOE 908 (a blocker of NSCC-1 and NSCC-2) and SK&F 96365 (a blocker of NSCC-2 and SOCC). This study pharmacologically compared Ca2+ entry channels involved in contractions of rat thoracic aorta without endothelium induced by ET-1, noradrenaline (NA), or arginine-vasopressin (AVP). These agonists-induced contractions of aortic rings without endothelium and increases in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) of cultured aortic smooth muscle cells were abolished by removal of extracellular Ca2+. A blocker of L-type voltage-operated Ca2+ channel (VOCC), nifedipine had no effect on the responses to ET-1, but it suppressed the responses to NA and AVP to 70% and 65% of control responses, respectively. LOE 908 partially suppressed the nifedipine-resistant responses to ET-1 and AVP, but not those to NA. SK&F 96365 also partially suppressed the nifedipine-resistant responses to ET-1 and AVP, whereas it abolished the responses to NA. LOE 908 in combination with SK&F 96365 abolished the nifedipine-resistant responses to either of the agonists. These results show that the contraction of rat aorta involves different Ca2+ entry channel depending on agonists: (a) NSCC-1, NSCC-2, and SOCC for ET-1; (b) VOCC and SOCC for NA; and (c) VOCC, NSCC-1, NSCC-2, and SOCC for AVP.