A Cause of Atypical Intracranial Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Posterior Spinal Artery Aneurysms

Ruptured isolated spinal artery aneurysms: Case series of five patients and a review of the literature on management strategies

BACKGROUND

Aneurysms of the spinal arteries are rare entities, the majority of which are associated with other vascular lesions, such as spinal vascular malformations. Isolated spinal artery aneurysms (SAAs) are even less frequently encountered, and their incidence is largely unknown, as the literature is limited to case reports and small series. The optimal management strategy for SAAs is not well defined.

OBJECTIVE

To review the institutional experience of five patients with isolated SAAs.

METHODS

Five cases of isolated SAAs were identified at our institution, including two cases with multiple simultaneous SAAs. Clinical presentation, imaging, and management strategies for each case were reviewed. A literature review of all SAAs reported between 1950 and 2020 was performed.

RESULTS

A total of five patients with eight isolated SAAs presented to our institution: one aneurysm was lumbar in location, while the remaining seven were thoracic. Two patients were treated with glue embolization followed by laminectomy for hematoma evacuation; one was treated with only surgery; and the other two, which both had multiple lesions, were managed conservatively with interval complete regression of their aneurysms. All five patients had good neurological outcomes. Literature review found 124 patients with at least 137 isolated SAAs and revealed treatment strategies including conservative management, glue or coil embolization, muslin wrapping, and surgical resection or clipping.

CONCLUSION

Multiple management strategies exist for SAAs, and clinical consideration of patient presentation and lesion morphology determine appropriate strategy. Our case series demonstrates three of these treatment paradigms.

Posterior spinal artery aneurysm as an unlikely culprit for perimesencephalic pattern subarachnoid hemorrhage: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Angiogram-negative nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can be diagnostically challenging, and a broad differential diagnosis must be considered. Particular attention to initial radiographic hemorrhage distribution is essential to guide adjunctive investigations. Posterior spinal artery aneurysms are rare clinical entities with few reported cases in the literature. An understanding of isolated spinal artery aneurysm natural history, diagnosis, and management is evolving as more cases are identified.

OBSERVATIONS

Isolated thoracic posterior spinal artery aneurysm can be the culprit lesion in perimesencephalic distribution SAH. Embolization resulted in complete aneurysm occlusion and did not result in periprocedural morbidity. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient was neurologically intact with no recurrence on magnetic resonance angiography.

LESSONS

This case report highlighted the presentation, diagnostic workup, clinical decision-making, and endovascular intervention for a woman who presented with SAH secondary to posterior spinal artery aneurysm. After initially negative results on vascular imaging, dedicated spinal vascular imaging revealed the location of the aneurysm. Multiple treatment modalities exist for isolated spinal artery aneurysms and must be selected on the basis of patient- and lesion-specific characteristics.

Repeated Retching and Vomiting in the Pathophysiology of Isolated Spinal Aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Rupture of spinal aneurysms is a rare cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. These aneurysms are often associated with a variety of vascular malformations that increase blood flow in the spinal circulation or with disorders that compromise the vessel wall. However, spinal aneurysms may be isolated, not associated with any known predisposing condition. The objective of this study is to explore the possible mechanisms associated with the formation and rupture of isolated spinal aneurysms (ISAs).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of a series of consecutive patients admitted for a ruptured ISA. In all cases, spinal angiography confirmed the presence of a spinal aneurysm responsible for the bleeding. Particular attention was paid to medical history and symptoms before bleeding, for potential factors predisposing to their formation and rupture.

RESULTS

Between 2008 and 2020, ten cases of spinal aneurysms were seen at our institution including 4 cases of ISA. All patients with ISA were female, and in 3 cases the aneurysm involved the territory of the posterior spinal artery. In 3 of these 4 (75%) ISA cases, there was a strikingly similar history of retching and vomiting preceding the thunderclap headache. In 1 patient, the aneurysm was surgically resected; pathologic analysis revealed a fusiform dissecting aneurysm. All 4 patients had a favorable outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that the straining during prolonged retching and vomiting plays a role in the formation and rupture of some ISAs, possibly because of pressure spikes, increased transmural arterial pressure, and increased wall shear stress during straining.

An isolated ruptured spinal aneurysm presents with a thalamic Infarct: case report

BACKGROUND

Isolated spinal artery aneurysms are extremely rare, and their pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and treatment strategies are poorly established. We report only the second case of a patient with an isolated posterior spinal aneurysm and concurrent left thalamic infarct and review the literature to help clarify treatment strategies of isolated spinal aneurysms.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 49-year-old patient presented with acute onset walking difficulty followed by diaphoresis, back and abdominal pain, and paraplegia. Imaging was notable for a hemorrhagic spinal lesion with compression at T12 through L4 and an acute left thalamic infarct. Surgical exploration revealed an isolated posterior spinal artery aneurysm. The aneurysm was surgically resected and the patient had partial recovery six months post-operatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated posterior spinal artery aneurysms of the thoracolumbar region are rare lesions that commonly present with abdominal pain, radiating back pain, and lower extremity weakness. Imaging may not provide a definitive diagnosis. The three primary treatment strategies are conservative management, endovascular treatment, or surgical resection. In patients with symptomatic cord compression, immediate surgical intervention is indicated to preserve neurologic function. In all other cases, the artery size, distal flow, morphology, and location may guide management.

Anatomical Study of the Posterior Spinal Artery Branches to the Medulla Oblongata

BACKGROUND

The posterior spinal arteries (PSAs), branches of the intracranial segment of the vertebral artery or posterior inferior cerebellar artery, run bilaterally along the spinal cord and are integral to the blood supply primarily to the posterior one third of this structure. However, a less well-described distribution of the PSAs is their supply to the posterior medulla. The purpose of this study is to examine the medullary branches of the PSA anatomically.

METHODS

We conducted a cadaveric study to evaluate for branches of the PSA supplying the medulla oblongata.

RESULTS

All 14 sides had medullary branches arising from the PSAs. The average number of branches supplying the medulla oblongata on each side was 6. Most of these branches traveled laterally to anastomose with medullary branches arising from the anterior spinal artery. Additionally, lateral and ascending branches were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians who interpret imaging of the craniocervical junction, in particular arteriograms, should be aware of ascending medullary branches arising from the anterior spinal artery. Additionally, neurosurgeons operating this region must be careful in dissecting over the posterior medulla and manipulating the cerebellar tonsils, as in telovelar approaches to the fourth ventricle, in order to avoid iatrogenic injury to these vessels. Additionally, variable stroke patterns involving the vertebral artery or posterior inferior cerebellar artery might include ischemia to the medulla oblongata via PSA branches, and this anatomy should be kept in mind by interventionalists, radiologists, and neurologists alike.

Ruptured Spinal Aneurysms: Diagnosis and Management Paradigms

BACKGROUND

Spinal aneurysms (SA) are rare neurovascular pathologies with an unclear natural history and management strategy. We review the clinical and radiologic manifestations, management, and outcome of patients who presented with spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) secondary to ruptured spinal aneurysms over a 10-year period. We provide a literature review about this condition and its management.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with nontraumatic spinal SAH were collected from a single-center prospectively maintained database of patients with SAH between January 2010 and January 2020. Patients diagnosed with spinal aneurysms were reviewed. For each patient, demographic data, clinical presentation, imaging findings, management strategies, and outcomes are reviewed and discussed.

RESULTS

Between January 2010 and January 2020, ten patients were diagnosed with nontraumatic spinal SAH (3 patients presented with isolated spinal SAH and 7 patients with concomitant spinal and posterior fossa SAH). Among those, 4 patients were found to have a spinal aneurysm as the cause of SAH. The aneurysms were located in the cervical regions in 3 patients (75%) and at the thoracic level in 1 patient. Two aneurysms (50%) involved the anterior spinal artery, and 2 aneurysms (50%) involved a radiculomedullary artery. One aneurysm was a flow-related aneurysm of the anterior spinal artery in the setting of bilateral vertebral artery occlusion and was treated by surgical clipping with good outcome. Three aneurysms were idiopathic pseudoaneurysms with a negative diagnostic evaluation for secondary causes. These pseudoaneurysms were treated conservatively; 2 patients did well and 1 patient passed away from severe intracranial vasospasm. Two aneurysms resolved on diagnostic angiogram, and 1 aneurysm was absent on initial angiogram and appeared on follow-up diagnostic imaging 3 months later.

CONCLUSIONS

Spinal aneurysms are rare neurovascular pathologies that should be considered in the setting of spinal and/or posterior fossa subarachnoid hemorrhage. Conservative treatment may be a potential safe alternative to interventional treatment. Before the initiation of surgical or endovascular treatment, spinal angiography should be repeated because of the potential for spontaneous resolution.

Spontaneous Spinal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage from a Ruptured Radiculopial Artery Aneurysm

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage is an uncommon entity and is even rarer when secondary to intraspinal ruptured aneurysm. The clinical presentation of these cases usually includes back pain and headache; however, we report a unique case in which the patient became acutely paraplegic.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 54-year-old woman initially presented with thunderclap headache and interscapular pain. There was no evidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage on noncontrast computed tomography of the head, but lumbar puncture revealed xanthochromia-positive cerebrospinal fluid. Subsequent computed tomography angiography identified a small right superior hypophyseal aneurysm. The patient then became acutely paraplegic during neurosurgical assessment in the emergency department. Urgent magnetic resonance imaging revealed extensive intradural hemorrhage in the cervicothoracic region, prompting emergent surgical decompression. At surgery, this hemorrhage was noted in a subarachnoid location, but no specific source was identified. Postoperative spinal digital subtraction angiography revealed an intraspinal aneurysm of the posterior spinal circulation involving the left T2 radiculopial artery, which was resected in a subsequent uneventful operation within the same hospital admission.

CONCLUSIONS

This unique clinical case highlights a rare cause of spontaneous acute paralysis and further demonstrates the safety of obliterating an intraspinal aneurysm via operative resection.

Intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage resulting from non-cervical spinal arteriovenous lesions: Analysis of possible cause of bleeding and literature review

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or intraventricle hemorrhage (IVH) with negative cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA) results, which are due to non-cervical spinal arteriovenous lesions, are uncommon. In this article we presented three cases from our hospital and nineteen cases from prior published literature and discussed clinical features, possible mechanisms underlying the hemorrhage and therapeutic strategies for managing this unusual entity. Our analysis revealed that headache was the most common initial symptom. Almost 60% of patients had symptoms related to the spinal cord at admission. Intramedullary arteriovenous malformations (AVM) were the most common type of malformation, and the thoracic segment was the most common location of the non-cervical spinal arteriovenous lesions. More than half of the patients had additional aneurysms. Surgery was chosen as the primary treatment modality in this series. Therefore, we speculate that thoracolumbar spinal arteriovenous lesions are an unusual cause of intracranial SAH with negative cerebral DSA results. If non-cervical spinal AVMs were associated with DSA-negative SAH, the pattern of hemorrhage could be manifested as the blood in supratentorial cisterns, the fourth ventricle or no copious blood around the foramen magnum as well (somewhat paradoxically), it depends on the timing of detection and image evaluation. The formation and the rupture of associated aneurysms were the most likely immediate cause of the intracranial SAH. If non-cervical spinal AVMs were not associated with DSA-negative SAH and all cases were genuine cases of 'SAH-of-unknown origin', the spinal AVM could be considered as incidental finding. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the complete spinal neuraxis is recommended to either exclude or identify a spinal lesion in these patients. Catheter-based spinal angiography remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of spinal vascular diseases. The decision regarding a therapeutic strategy is based on the angioarchitecture and on the type of spinal arteriovenous lesions.

Spinal artery aneurysms: clinical presentation, radiological findings and outcome

Background and purpose

Spinal arterial aneurysms are a rare cause of spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We performed a retrospective review of spinal arterial aneurysms not associated with spinal arteriovenus shunts from three institutions in order to better understand the clinical and imaging characteristics of these lesions.

Materials and methods

We performed a retrospective review of spinal arterial aneurysms managed at three North American institutions. For each patient, the following information was collected: demographic data, clinical presentation, comorbidities, imaging findings, and neurological status at the last follow-up. Treatment strategies and outcomes were reported.

Results

11 patients were included; 7 were women and median age was 60 years. The most common presentation was sudden back pain (81.8%). We found 3 aneurysms on the radiculomedullary artery and 8 along the radiculopial arteries. Of the 3 aneurysms on the radiculomedullary artery, 1 was treated conservatively, 1 was treated with coiling of the aneurysm and sacrifice of the radiculomedullary artery, and 1 was treated with surgical trapping. The 8 aneurysms on the radiculopial artery were treated endovascularly in 4 cases, surgically in 1 case, and conservatively in 3 cases. One surgically treated patient had a spinal subdural hematoma. There were no other complications. Mean clinical follow-up time was 20 months, and 87.5% of patients were functionally independent.

Conclusions

Spinal arterial aneurysms are lesions which commonly present with sudden back pain and spinal SAH. Conservative, surgical, and endovascular treatment options are safe and effective. Long term outcomes in these patients are generally good.

Dissecting spinal aneurysms: conservative management as a therapeutic option

Objective

Isolated dissecting spinal aneurysms are rare lesions that pose a therapeutic challenge. We report our experience in the management of four patients with dissecting spinal aneurysms.

Methods

After institutional review board approval was obtained, the neurointerventional databases of the two participating institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Aneurysms in the anterior spinal artery, posterior spinal artery, or in a radiculomedullary artery were included in the analysis. Flow-related aneurysms were excluded. Data on clinical presentation, hemorrhage location, aneurysm size, location, angiographic follow-up, re-hemorrhage, and clinical outcome were obtained and analyzed.

Results

Four patients with five spinal dissecting aneurysms met the inclusion criteria. There were two women and the mean age was 63 years (range 36–64). All patients presented with hemorrhage. Three radiculomedullary arteries in two different patients had one lesion each; the other two involved the anterior spinal artery and a posterior spinal artery in different patients. All four patients were managed conservatively. Follow-up angiography (5.5 months) demonstrated occlusion of all five aneurysms. There was no re-hemorrhage and all patients had a good outcome at the last follow-up (modified Rankin Scale score 0–2).

Conclusions

Conservative management of ruptured spontaneous dissecting spinal aneurysms is a reasonable therapeutic option capable of achieving favorable angiographic and clinical outcomes.

Subarachnoid and intraperitoneal hemorrhage secondary to segmental arterial mediolysis: A case report and review of the literature

Background Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is an uncommon or underdiagnosed arteriopathy that presents with life-threatening hemorrhage. SAM can affect the intracranial, spinal, and visceral arteries, with reported cases of concomitant intracranial and visceral hemorrhage. Case description We present the case of a 61-year-old male with concurrent subarachnoid and intraperitoneal hemorrhage caused by simultaneously bleeding posterior spinal artery and splenic artery pseudoaneurysms. The posterior spinal artery pseudoaneurysms were treated with selective injection of polyvinyl alcohol particles into the posterior spinal artery, while the splenic artery pseudoaneurysm was treated with Gelfoam embolization. The constellation of imaging, clinical, and laboratory features led to a presumptive diagnosis of SAM, which remains the only reported cause of concurrent neurovascular and visceral artery aneurysm rupture. Conclusion SAM is a key diagnostic consideration in cases of concomitant intracranial, spinal, and visceral artery aneurysm rupture.

A ruptured aneurysm in the vasa corona at the craniocervical junction with dysgenesis of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery

This paper reports the case of a ruptured aneurysm in the vasa corona at the craniocervical junction with dysgenesis of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). Dysgenesis of the proximal PICA in the present case caused the development of a pial anastomosis in the vasa corona, resulting in the formation of an aneurysm because of increased haemodynamic stress at the vasa corona. The aneurysm was successfully treated with transarterial coil embolization. The clinical entity in the present case is extremely rare and it is important to consider an aberrant vascular anomaly as the cause of an isolated spinal aneurysm.

Ruptured posterior spinal artery aneurysm: intraoperative and histologic findings with appreciable thrombosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Little is known on the natural course of ruptured spinal artery aneurysm, and a treatment strategy remains to be elucidated.

PURPOSE

This case report aims to describe a rare case of a posterior spinal artery aneurysm that showed progressive thrombosis following subarachnoid hemorrhage.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a case report and literature review.

METHODS

A 54-year-old man presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to posterior spinal artery aneurysm at the T10 level. The patient underwent surgery 19 days after onset.

RESULTS

Most of the aneurysm appeared unenhanced on intraoperative indocyanine green video angiography, and total resection was performed. Histologic examination confirmed spontaneous thrombosis of the lesion. A review of the literature identified 19 cases of ruptured posterior spinal artery aneurysm. Thrombosed aneurysm and thrombosed parent artery were observed in 7 (44%) of the 16 cases treated with surgical or endovascular interventions. In the three cases treated conservatively, fatal rebleeding in the acute stage was noted in one case, whereas the lesion disappeared spontaneously in the chronic stage without rebleeding in two cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Ruptured spinal artery aneurysms are prone to spontaneous thrombosis. The healing process of the lesion was well documented in the present case. Repeated angiographic follow-up offers a feasible alternative in the management of this fairly rare aneurysm.

Successfully Treated Isolated Posterior Spinal Artery Aneurysm Causing Intracranial Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Case Report

There are very few published reports of rupture of an isolated posterior spinal artery (PSA) aneurysm, and consequently the optimal therapeutic strategy is debatable. An 84-year-old man presented with sudden onset of restlessness and disorientation. Neuroradiological imaging showed an intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with no visible intracranial vascular lesion. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected a localized subarachnoid hematoma at Th10–11. Both contrast-enhanced spinal computed tomography and enhanced MRI and magnetic resonance angiography revealed an area of enhancement within the hematoma. Superselective angiography of the left Th12 intercostal artery demonstrated a faintly enhanced spot in the venous phase. Thirteen days after the onset of symptoms, a small fusiform aneurysm situated on the radiculopial artery was resected. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and he was eventually discharged in an ambulatory condition. To our knowledge, this 84-year-old man is the oldest reported case of surgical management of a ruptured isolated PSA aneurysm. This case illustrates both the validity and efficacy of this therapeutic approach.