ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the interobserver and intermodality agreement in the interpretation of time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography (MRA) for the follow-up of coiled intracranial aneurysms with the Enterprise stent.Materials and MethodsTwo experienced neurointerventionists independently reviewed the follow-up MRA studies of 40 consecutive patients with 44 coiled aneurysms. All aneurysms were treated with assistance from the Enterprise stent and the radiologic follow-up intervals were greater than 6 months after the endovascular therapy. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) served as the reference standard. The degree of aneurysm occlusion was determined by an evaluation of the maximal intensity projection (MIP) and source images (SI) of the TOF MRA. The capability of the TOF MRA to depict the residual flow within the coiled aneurysms and the stented parent arteries was compared with that of the DSA.ResultsDSA showed stable occlusions in 25 aneurysms, minor recanalization in 8, and major recanalization in 11. Comparisons between the TOF MRA and conventional angiography showed that the MIP plus SI had almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.892, range 0.767 to 1.000) and had better agreement than with the MIP images only (κ = 0.598, range 0.370 to 0.826). In-stent stenosis of more than 33% was observed in 5 cases. Both MIP and SI of the MRA showed poor depiction of in-stent stenosis compared with the DSA.ConclusionTOF MRA seemed to be reliable in screening for aneurysm recurrence after coil embolization with Enterprise stent assistance, especially in the evaluation of the SI, in addition to MIP images in the TOF MRA.

ObjectiveWe reviewed the feasibility, safety and efficacy as well as the clinical outcome and long-term angiographic results of endovascular treatment (EVT) of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms.MethodsA total of 429 ACoA aneurysms in 426 patients were treated using coil embolization between March 1996 and October 2010 in a single institution. Pretreatment aneurysmal features were checked using angiogram. We had usually used tailored steam shaped microcatheter according to individual angiographic architectures. Immediate postembolization outcomes were evaluated using an angiographic outcome scale and clinical evaluation was performed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS).ResultsPostembolization angiograms demonstrated total occlusion of aneurysm in 290 of 429 (67.6%) aneurysms, neck remnant in 80 (18.6%) and body filling in 59 (13.8%). Dome direction and aneurysm angle was not associated with initial angiographic outcomes. The procedure-related morbidity rate was 0.9% (4 of 429). Clinical and imaging follow-up more than 6 months were available in 382 (89.0%) patients with a mean of 26.2 months. Overall rate of major recanalization was 7.9% (30 of 382) and all of them were retreated without complications. At the last follow-up, 233 (99.2%) of 235 patients had GOS of 5 in unruptured group, and 152 (79.5%) of 191 patients showed good clinical outcomes (GOS of 4 or 5) in ruptured group.ConclusionTailored steam shaping of the microcatheter is vital to achieve good angiographic outcomes regardless of aneurysmal direction. EVT is feasible and safe for most ACoA aneurysms with acceptable immediate and long-term outcomes.

Small UIAs with residual sac filling after coiling showed a complete occlusion rate of 88.3% at 6 months post embolization. Stent deployment seems to promote complete occlusion in such lesions.

A high cervical dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) is relatively rare and tends to have different features, as compared with a thoracolumbar dAVF. Here, we report a case involving a complex AVF located at the craniocervical junction that was fed by the dural and pial arteries, combined with a contralateral dAVF.

Cortical venous drainage (CVD) increases the probability of intracranial hemorrhage and mortality rate of dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF). Although digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the most accurate method to determine CVD in DAVFs, this modality has limitations due to its invasive nature and radiation issues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of arterial spin-labeling perfusion-weighted images (ASL-PWI) to identify CVD in patients with DAVF.The Institutional Review Board of our hospital approved this retrospective study. ASL-PWI features of 22 patients with DAVF were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of bright signal intensity in cortical veins and brain parenchyma. DAVF with bright signal intensity in cortical veins and/or brain parenchyma was regarded as having CVD. Using DSA as a reference standard, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ASL-PWI for detecting CVD were calculated.Based on DSA features, 11 (11/22, 50%) patients were classified as having “aggressive” pattern with CVD. Eleven (11/22, 50%) patients also showed bright signal intensity in cortical veins (9/22, 41%) and/or brain parenchyma (4/22, 18%) on ASL-PWI. The 11 patients who had “Aggressive” pattern on DSA were the same 11 patients who were classified as having “aggressive” pattern on ASL-PWI. ASL-PWI showed perfect diagnostic performance for identifying CVD with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 100% for all.Thus, ASL-PWI could be used as a noninvasive mean to predict the presence of CVD in patients with DAVFs. It has the potential as a screening tool to evaluate DAVF prior to invasive DSA.

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Introduction: Through emerging of novel devices and elaborated patient selection, endovascular treatment against acute ischemic stroke is gaining popularity. We investigated factors influencing outcomes after endovascular treatment in highly applicable patients. Methods: We enrolled consecutive 72 patients with favorable penumbral pattern, who underwent endovascular treatment with Solitaire from 2010 through 2013 in three hospitals of Korea. Inclusion criteria were these: the NIHSS and age were between 6 and 29, and 18 and 85, respectively, and endovascular procedures could begin within 8 h from onset. A favorable penumbral pattern was defined as a mismatch ratio ≥ 1.43 between hypoperfusion by Tmax > 6 s and infarction core by DWI which should be < 90 mL. The good outcome was defined as mRS ≤ 2 at 3 Mo. The recanalization was evaluated by TICI grading and successful recanalization was defined as grade 2b or 3. Results: Among 72 patients, 44 (61%) underwent combined treatment with intravenous (IV) and endovascular treatments, and 28 (39%) were treated by endovascular thrombectomy only. The overall recanalization rate was 82%, and the proportion of good outcome was 55.6%. Younger age and recanalization were associated with good outcome, but onset to treatment time and the combined IV thrombolysis was not related to good outcome. After propensity score matching to balance possible confounders between combined and endovascular-only treatment groups, combined treatment did not have beneficial effects than endovascular-only (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.1-2.6). The successful recanalization after endovascular treatment was an independent predictor for good outcome (adjusted OR, 6.8; 95% CI, 1.3-34.5), after controlling age, sex, stroke severity, onset to treatment time, the combined IV therapy, and risk factors. Conclusion: In patients with discrete diffusion-perfusion mismatch, the recanalization after thrombectomy is the most important predictor for good outcomes.