Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Because of Distal Superior Cerebellar Artery Dissection in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Neurovascular complications in adults with Neurofibromatosis type 1: A national referral center experience

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is associated with a range of vascular abnormalities. To assess the frequency, clinical and imaging spectrum of vascular complications in an adult cohort of NF1 patients, we reviewed 2068 adult NF1 patient records seen in our service between 2009 and 2019, to determine presence of vascular abnormalities, age at detection, associated symptoms and management. A literature review of the range of vascular abnormalities associated with NF1 was also undertaken. 1234 patients had magnetic resonance imaging cranial imaging. The frequency of vascular abnormalities associated with NF1 patients who had cranial imaging in this cohort was 3.5% (n = 43), the majority (n = 26, 60%) were symptomatic. Stroke and cerebral arterial stenosis were the commonest vascular complication. Eight patients (0.65%) had more than one type of vascular abnormality. One death due to a vascular complication was identified and significant morbidity resulted from other complications. We conclude that clinicians caring for patients with NF1 need to be cognizant that rapid onset of new neurological symptoms or signs may be the result of a vascular complication of NF1 and require urgent investigation and management, ideally within specialist teams who have experience of managing vascular complications of NF1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to multiple and de novo aneurysms: a case report

Background

Neurofibromatosis type 1 causes various lesions in many organs including the skin, and the incidence of complications with intracranial aneurysms is 9–11%. Here we report a case of neurofibromatosis type 1 with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to multiple and de novo aneurysms.

Case presentation

The patient was a 49-year-old Japanese woman with a history of neurofibromatosis type 1. She was transported to our hospital owing to disturbance of consciousness and was diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage by computed tomography. Computed tomography angiography revealed multiple, small intracranial aneurysms, and we suspected that one of them in the peripheral branch of the left middle cerebral artery was the source of hemorrhage based on the distribution of hematoma. The patient underwent emergency surgery. Because it was difficult to identify an aneurysm in the most peripheral part of the left middle cerebral artery in the initial surgery, only one aneurysm was clipped. Later, a peripheral aneurysm was clipped using the navigation system. Because both aneurysms were small intracranial aneurysms (< 2 mm), either of them could be the source of hemorrhage. The postoperative course was good, and the patient was discharged in healthy condition. Because brain magnetic resonance imaging performed in the previous year did not find aneurysms at the same site, she was diagnosed with rupture of a de novo aneurysm. Neurofibromatosis type 1 might have caused the rupture of multiple intracranial aneurysms in a short period in this patient.

Conclusion

Neurofibromatosis type 1 may be complicated by the formation of multiple intracranial aneurysms in a short period.

Superficial temporal artery-superior cerebellar artery bypass and trapping of a fusiform aneurysm using intradural anterior petrosectomy: technical case report and anatomical study

Aneurysms at the distal portion of the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) are very rare. Because of the deep location and a propensity for nonsaccular morphology, aneurysm trapping or endovascular occlusion of the parent artery are the usual treatment options, which are associated with varying risks of ischemic complications. The authors report on a 60-year-old woman who had a 3.5-mm unruptured aneurysm in the lateral pontomesencephalic segment of the SCA with a significant interval growth to 8 mm. Direct surgical intervention comprising trapping of the aneurysm through a subtemporal approach and intradural anterior petrosectomy combined with revascularization of the distal SCA using the superficial temporal artery (STA) was performed. This approach provided sufficient space for the bypass instruments to be introduced into the deep surgical field at a more favorable angle to enhance microscopic visualization of the anastomosis with minimal retraction of the temporal lobe. The patient was discharged with no neurological deficit. Preservation of the blood flow in the distal SCA should be attempted to minimize the risk of ischemic injury, particularly when the aneurysms arise in the anterior or lateral segment of the SCA. The authors demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the intradural anterior petrosectomy for STA-SCA bypass along with a relevant anatomical study.