Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Mirror Aneurysms and Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms-Case Report-

Safety and Efficacy of Bilateral Flow Diversion for Treatment of Anterior Circulation Cerebral Aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Nearly 20% of individuals with an aneurysm will have multiple aneurysms-these individuals are at increased risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Treatment of bilateral aneurysms with flow diverters (FDs), or Pipeline embolization device, has not yet been established as an effective therapy. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a 2-stage treatment of bilateral aneurysms with Pipeline embolization devices placed 6 months apart.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review to analyze the clinical and angiographic outcomes of 16 individuals with bilateral aneurysms treated with 2-stage flow diversion at a tertiary referral center from January 2010 to July 2018.

RESULTS

Of the 16 patients with 33 aneurysms treated with bilateral flow diversion, 1 had 2 aneurysms treated with a single FD on the contralateral side. The aneurysms treated were ophthalmic, superior hypophyseal, posterior communicating, or cavernous segment aneurysms, with an average size of 6.5 mm. No major complications, such as in-stent stenosis, thromboembolic events, distal intraparenchymal hemorrhage, rerupture, stent migration, or neurological death, were recorded. All the patients had good functional outcomes. At the 24-month follow-up examination, 81% of aneurysms showed complete occlusion. No aneurysm required repeat treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from the present study have demonstrated that 2-stage treatment of bilateral aneurysms with FDs is both safe and efficacious. The timing of contralateral FD stent placement is critical. We found that 6 months allows for adequate neurological recovery and stent endothelialization.

Operative Management of Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysms Through a Mini Anterior Interhemispheric Approach

BACKGROUND

Distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms, also known as pericallosal artery aneurysms, are present in 1.5%-9% of all intracranial aneurysms. Here we characterize the important microsurgical anatomy of DACAs; describe the surgical approach to treating these aneurysms with a minimally invasive surgical technique, the mini anterior interhemispheric approach (MAIA); and examine the nuances of aneurysm clipping in this region.

METHODS

This was a retrospective and descriptive analysis of a series of aneurysm surgeries performed at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City. Cadaveric dissections were used to demonstrate relevant cerebrovascular anatomy. We analyzed patient demographic data and aneurysm characteristics. Patients' neurologic grade was evaluated using the Hunt and Kosnik (H-K) scale, and surgical outcomes were evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Other variables were analyzed using the χ² test.

RESULTS

We analyzed a total of 32 DACA aneurysms (10 nonruptured and 22 ruptured), representing 5.8% of all aneurysms. The study cohort was 64.3% females and 35.7% males. H-K grade II was the most frequent classification (32.4%); 42.8% of patients presented with a Fisher grade IV aneurysm. Aneurysm location was classified as supra-genu, genu, or infra-genu. Eight patients had multiple aneurysms, among which 50% were located at the bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical clipping through a MAIA approach is an excellent treatment option for pericallosal artery aneurysms.

A comparative study of 43 patients with mirror-like intracranial aneurysms: risk factors, treatment, and prognosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Mirror-like intracranial aneurysms (MirAn) occur symmetrically at the corresponding intracranial arteries and are a subgroup of multiple intracranial aneurysms. The aim of this study was to analyze the risk factors, treatment, and prognosis of MirAn.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 43 cases of MirAn diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2009. The control groups comprised patients with non-mirror-like multiple aneurysms (nMirAn) and single aneurysms (SingAn). Sex, age, localization of MirAn, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and rupture were identified as potential risk factors for MirAn.

RESULTS

The male to female ratio of the MirAn patients was 1.0:5.1, which was significantly different from that of the nMirAn patients (1.0:1.9, P=0.037) and SingAn patients (1.0:1.3, P<0.001). There was no difference in age (P=0.8741), smoking (P=0.301), diabetes (P=0.267), or hypertension (P=0.874) between the MirAn and nMirAn patients. The aneurysms in 28 MirAn patients (65.1%) involved the internal carotid-posterior communicating arteries; in these patients, the rupture risk was significantly higher for larger aneurysms compared with smaller aneurysms (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

More women suffered from MirAn than nMirAn or SingAn. The most common MirAn sites were the internal carotid-posterior communicating arteries. Our results suggest that MirAn was not associated with age, smoking, hypertension, or diabetes.

Mirror-Image Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas at the Craniocervical Junction

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE

We report an extremely rare case with mirror-site spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) at the craniocervical junction. Although multiple spinal DAVFs have been reported in the literature, complete mirror-site lesions with fistulas and feeding arteries in the symmetric position have not been previously described.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

A 74-year-old man presented with walking disturbance, urinary incontinence, and constipation progressing over a 14-month period. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed a high-intensity area in the spinal cord at the level from C4 to C6 and multiple flow voids at the surface of the spinal cord. Three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography revealed bilateral DAVFs located in the mirror site of the craniocervical junction. Direct surgery with suboccipital craniectomy and C1 laminectomy revealed dilated tortuous red veins on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord. We found bilateral symmetric red veins around the dural penetration of the vertebral artery. Both red veins were successfully interrupted with the aneurysmal clips. Postoperative 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiography revealed a disappearance of the bilateral fistulas. Magnetic resonance images obtained 6 months after the surgery confirmed the disappearance of the intramedullary high-intensity area and flow voids. The symptoms before the operation improved after surgery, especially urinary incontinence and constipation, with slight walking disturbance.

CONCLUSION

Because fistulas in the present case existed at the same spinal level, we found multiple fistulas on the first examination. This early notification resulted in a good outcome from the first operation. If patients with spinal DAVFs have rapidly progressing symptoms, one should suspect multiple fistulas.