Rapid contralateral progression of focal cerebral arteriopathy distinguished from RNF213-related moyamoya disease and fibromuscular dysplasia

Decompression surgery for pure arterial malformations in a 15 year old with acute, progressive visual impairment: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

The authors document the first case of pure arterial malformations (PAMs) of the posterior communicating artery (PCoA), which were successfully treated with microsurgical clipping of the main body of the PAMs. PAMs are defined as dilated, overlapping, and tortuous arteries with a coil-like appearance and/or a mass of arterial loops without any associated venous component. Although PAMs usually have a benign history and are often incidental findings, this case presented with acute progression of visual field impairment.

OBSERVATIONS

Because the patient's right optic tract was affected by the loop of PAMs of the PCoA, the authors performed microsurgical clipping of the main body of the PAMs using endoscopy, which ceased the progression of symptoms without any complications.

LESSONS

There have been several reports of PAMs receiving surgical treatment for accompanying lesions. However, in this case, the lesion to the main body of PAMs was the cause of visual field impairment and was successfully treated with microsurgical clipping.

Progressive Pure Arterial Malformations of the Anterior Cerebral Artery

BACKGROUND

Pure arterial malformations (PAMs) are rare intracranial vascular anomalies. As recently reported, PAMs have a benign natural history and can be treated conservatively. However, their etiology, natural history, and treatment have not yet been fully elucidated.

METHODS

We present a rare case of the progression of a PAM involving the anterior cerebral artery. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass located in the suprasellar region associated with obstructive hydrocephalus. Digital subtraction angiography showed evolution of the arterial anomaly with progression compared with the studies 3 years earlier. Surgical trapping of the parent artery with electrophysiological monitoring was performed. Combined with previous data, the clinical features and therapeutic strategies for this unusual entity are discussed.

RESULTS

The patient recovered uneventfully after surgery. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography confirmed complete obliteration of the lesion. Axial computed tomography also showed shrinkage of the aneurysm, with improvement of the hydrocephalus. Our review of the reported data showed only 4 patients with a definite or probable PAM who had undergone surgery. To the best of our knowledge, the present case represents the first report of changes in the vascular architecture of a PAM during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Whether the aneurysmal component of PAMs merits invasive treatment has remained controversial. The findings from our case raises the possibility of evolution for some patients with PAMs and stresses the importance of scheduled follow-up noninvasive imaging studies to rule out progression of these nosological entities, especially PAMs with an "aneurysm-like" component.