Ulceration location is associated with clinical course in carotid stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Plaque ulceration in carotid artery stenosis is a risk factor for cerebral ischemic events; however, the characteristics that determine plaque vulnerability are not fully understood. We thus assessed the association between plaque ulceration sites and cerebrovascular ischemic attack. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 72 consecutive patients diagnosed with carotid artery stenosis with plaque ulcers. After excluding patients with pseudo-occlusion, a history of previous carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting before the ulcer was first discovered, follow-up data of less than 1 month, or carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting performed within 1 month after the ulcer was first discovered, 60 patients were ultimately included. Patients were divided into proximal and distal groups based on the ulcer location relative to the most stenotic point. The primary endpoints were ipsilateral cerebrovascular ischemic events ("ischemic events"), such as amaurosis fugax, transient ischemic attack, or ischemic stroke due to carotid artery stenosis with plaque ulceration. The association between ulcer location and ischemic events was also assessed. RESULTS: In the patients with plaque ulcer, more patients had proximal than distal plaque ulcers (39 vs 21; P = .028). The median follow-up duration was 3.8 years (interquartile range, 1.5-6.2 years). Nineteen patients (32%) experienced ischemic event. Ischemic events occurred more frequently in the distal than in the proximal group (18% vs 59%; P = .005). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated a significantly shorter event-free time in the distal group (log-rank P = .021). In univariate analysis, distal ulcer location was associated with ischemic events (odds ratio [OR], 2.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-7.65; P = .03). Multivariate analysis using two different models also showed that distal ulcer location was independently associated with ischemic events (Model 1: OR, 3.85; 95% CI, 1.26-11.78; P = .03; Model 2: OR, 4.31; 95% CI, 1.49-12.49; P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with carotid artery stenosis and plaque ulcers located distal to the most stenotic point are more likely to experience cerebrovascular ischemic attacks. Therefore, carotid plaques with ulcers located distal to the most stenotic point may be a potential indication for surgical treatment.

Pathological changes in the lenticulostriate artery indicate the mechanisms leading to intracranial hemorrhage in Moyamoya disease: a case report.

This case report details the pathological findings of a vessel wall identified as the bleeding point for intracranial hemorrhage associated with Moyamoya disease. A 29-year-old woman experienced intracranial hemorrhage unrelated to hyperperfusion following superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass surgery. A pseudoaneurysm on the lenticulostriate artery (LSA) was identified as the causative vessel and subsequently excised. Examination of the excised pseudoaneurysm revealed a fragment of the LSA, with a disrupted internal elastic lamina and media degeneration. These pathological findings in a perforating artery, akin to the circle of Willis, provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of hemorrhage in Moyamoya disease.

Irreversible postoperative cognitive impairment after unruptured intracranial aneurysm treatment in the elderly.

PURPOSE: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction and recovery remain unclear in older patients undergoing interventional therapies for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). This study aimed to compare changes in postoperative cognitive function between younger and older patients and to detect factors associated with non-recovery from postoperative cognitive dysfunction. METHODS: This study reviewed 59 consecutive patients with UIAs who underwent interventional therapies, including microsurgical clipping or endovascular treatment, from 2021 to 2022. All patients were divided into the older (aged ≥ 70 years) and younger (aged < 70 years) groups. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) were performed within 2 months before interventions, at 1 week postoperatively (POW1), and 3-6 months postoperatively (POM3-6). RESULTS: MMSE and FAB scores decreased more frequently in the older group than in the younger group at POW1 (older vs. younger: MMSE: 48% vs. 21%, p < 0.05; FAB: 56% vs. 18%, p < 0.01). In the older group, the FAB Z-score decreased in POW1 and recovered by POM3-6 (p < 0.01), while the MMSE Z-score continued to decrease (p = 0.04). Age and the preoperative MSME Z-score were significantly associated with non-recovery from decreased MMSE score at POM3-6 (recovery vs. non-recovery, age: 62 years old vs. 72 years old, p = 0.03, preoperative MMSE Z-score: 0.16 vs. - 0.90, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study found that older patients were more likely to have a postoperative cognitive decline after UIA treatment and implicated that global cognitive function tended to decline more than executive function in the long term. In addition, this study demonstrated that lower preoperative cognitive function was associated with inadequate postoperative cognitive recovery. The findings potentially contribute to the establishment of indications for treating UIAs in older patients.

Surgical treatment of feline inductive odontogenic tumor by marginal resection in a cat.

A 1-year-old mixed-breed cat was referred for an approximately 2-cm mass centered on the upper right canine tooth. Computed tomography (CT) revealed the lesion extended to the nasal cavity and orbit, causing thinning and expansion of the adjacent cortical bone. Excisional biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of a feline inductive odontogenic tumor. Based on the findings of CT imaging, the primary alveolar bone lesion was removed with the tumor, while the adjacent bones, which had been expanded and thinned, were preserved by marginal resection including the surrounding periosteum-like membrane. No local recurrence was observed for seven years. To validate the therapeutic outcome of this case, further research in diagnostic imaging and pathology will be crucial.

A Review of Current Flow Diverters.

Flow diverter (FD) devices are new-generation stents placed in the parent artery at the aneurysmal neck to obstruct intra-aneurysmal blood flow, thus favoring intra-aneurysmal thrombosis. In Japan, about eight years have passed since health insurance approval was granted for FD devices, and FD placement to treat aneurysms has become widespread. Treatment indications have also been expanded with the introduction of novel devices. At present, three types of FD (Pipeline, FRED, and Surpass Streamline) are available in Japan. This report represents a compilation of available FD technologies and describes the current consensus on this treatment.

Plaque Ulcerations are Associated with Recurrence in Symptomatic Low-Grade Carotid Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical indications for low-grade carotid stenosis have not yet been established. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of low-grade carotid stenosis refractory to medical treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 48 patients with symptomatic low-grade carotid stenosis (<50%). Recurrence was defined as an ipsilateral ischemic event in the symptomatic lesions during the follow-up period. Patient demographics and imaging findings were compared between the recurrence and nonrecurrence groups to investigate risk factors associated with medical treatment. RESULTS: The mean age was 74.1 (58-90 years), and the mean follow-up period was 35.4 months (2.0-97 months). Recurrence occurred in 15 of the symptomatic patients. Ulceration was significantly associated with recurrence under medical treatment (P = 0.001). The median time to recurrence was 26.1 months in patients with ulcers and 54.3 months in those without ulcers (P = 0.04). Pathological study with recurrence showed plaque rupture with multilayered lesions, indicating lesions refractory to medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of low-grade carotid stenosis, lesions with ulcerations are likely refractory to medical therapy. Consideration of the indications for surgical treatment may be warranted for lesions with ulceration, even if the degree of stenosis is low.

One-Stage Combined Open and Endovascular Treatment Using a Hybrid Operating Room is Safe and Effective for Distal Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms located in the distal middle cerebral artery (DMCA) are relatively rare and lack an established treatment strategy. For DMCA aneurysms, we performed a one-stage combined procedure of endovascular parent artery occlusion (PAO) with coils and superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass in a hybrid operating room (HOR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this procedure. METHODS: Cases of unruptured DMCA aneurysms treated with the one-stage combined PAO and STA-MCA bypass in HOR were retrospectively examined, and patients' and aneurysmal backgrounds, surgical procedures, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Six patients were included in the study. The average maximum diameter of the aneurysms was 14.4 mm. One aneurysm was located at M2 and five at M3. All aneurysms had a fusiform shape. No cases were associated with infection, trauma, or malignant tumors. In all 6 cases, the combined PAO and STA-MCA bypass was successfully completed. No postoperative hemorrhagic complications occurred. A symptomatic ischemic complication occurred in 1 case whose symptom disappeared in a week. Three months after surgery, complete obliteration of the aneurysm and patency of the bypass was confirmed in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The one-stage combined PAO and STA-MCA bypass in the HOR is safe and effective for DMCA aneurysms, potentially serving as a treatment option for this complex aneurysm.