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Background A low-profile visualized intraluminal support (LVIS) device may incompletely expand during stent deployment in tortuous vessels. However, the cause of incomplete expansion remains uninvestigated. We aimed to examine in vitro the factors causing incomplete expansion in LVIS deployment by using various vessel models. Methods A linear model group was created by connecting linear silicone tubes (inner diameter 4 mm) at both sides of the LVIS deployment vessel (inner diameter 4 mm) with different curvature angles of 10–140° at 10° intervals. For comparison, proximal and distal bending model groups were created, both with 90° bending on the proximal/distal larger curvature side of the deployment vessel. A single operator macroscopically deployed an LVIS (4.5×32 mm) four times in each model and 56 times in each group. Results In each model group the LVIS deployment vessel with a narrow curvature angle incompletely expanded. Incomplete expansion occurred significantly more frequently in the distal bending model group (34%, 19/56) compared with that in the linear model group (14.3%, 8/56; p Conclusions Factors such as acute angle, distal bending, and proximal bending of the deployment vessel can cause incomplete LVIS expansion.

Background Dissection of a vertebral artery (VA) fenestration is extremely rare. We herein present the first case of a patient who presented with the dissection of a VA fenestration limb accompanied by occlusion after rupture, who was treated with internal trapping of the dissected limb and the parent artery proximal to the fenestration. Case Description A 55-year-old man presented with sudden headache and altered consciousness. Computed tomography at admission showed subarachnoid hemorrhage. Angiography showed occlusion of the inner limb of the vertebrobasilar junction fenestration, and the occluded ends had a tapered shape, suggesting the occlusion of the dissection of the inner limb after rupture. Angiography immediately before embolization revealed inner limb recanalization with an irregular string sign; thus only the inner limb was embolized. Angiography after embolization showed near-complete suppression of the blood flow in the inner limb; however, a slight antegrade flow through the coil mass was observed in the late phase. The procedure was finished with the expectation of complete occlusion over time with natural heparin reversal. Angiography 8 days after embolization revealed a significant increase in antegrade blood flow through the coil mass within the inner limb. Therefore additional embolization of the parent artery proximal to the fenestration was performed, which achieved complete occlusion. Conclusions The embolization length was limited and the antegrade blood flow through the other limb remained during internal trapping for the dissected VA fenestration limb; therefore careful observation of the blood flow to the dissected segment after embolization is necessary.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the association of preoperative intratumoral susceptibility signal (ITSS) grade with hemorrhage after stereotactic biopsy (STB). METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed 66 patients who underwent STB in their institution. Preoperative factors including age, sex, platelet count, prothrombin time–international normalized ratio, activated thromboplastin time, antiplatelet agent use, history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, target location, anesthesia type, and ITSS data were recorded. ITSS was defined as a dot-like or fine linear low signal within a tumor on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) and was graded using a 3-point scale: grade 1, no ITSS within the lesion; grade 2, 1–10 ITSSs; and grade 3, ≥ 11 ITSSs. Postoperative final tumor pathology was also reviewed. The association between preoperative variables and the size of postoperative hemorrhage was examined. RESULTS Thirty-four patients were men and 32 were women. The mean age was 66.6 years. The most common tumor location was the frontal lobe (27.3%, n = 18). The diagnostic yield of STB was 93.9%. The most common pathology was lymphoma (36.4%, n = 24). The ITSS was grade 1 in 37 patients (56.1%), grade 2 in 14 patients (21.2%), and grade 3 in 15 patients (22.7%). Interobserver agreement for ITSS was almost perfect (weighted kappa = 0.87; 95% CI 0.77–0.98). Age was significantly associated with ITSS (p = 0.0075). Postoperative hemorrhage occurred in 17 patients (25.8%). Maximum hemorrhage diameter (mean ± SD) was 1.78 ± 1.35 mm in grade 1 lesions, 2.98 ± 2.2 mm in grade 2 lesions, and 9.51 ± 2.11 mm in grade 3 lesions (p = 0.01). Hemorrhage > 10 mm in diameter occurred in 10 patients (15.2%), being symptomatic in 3 of them. Four of 6 patients with grade 3 ITSS glioblastomas (66.7%) had postoperative hemorrhages > 10 mm in diameter. After adjusting for age, ITSS grade was the only factor significantly associated with hemorrhage > 10 mm (p = 0.029). Compared with patients with grade 1 ITSS, the odds of postoperative hemorrhage > 10 mm in diameter were 2.57 times higher in patients with grade 2 ITSS (95% CI 0.31–21.1) and 9.73 times higher in patients with grade 3 ITSS (95% CI 1.57–60.5). CONCLUSIONS ITSS grade on SWI is associated with size of postoperative hemorrhage after STB.

Background: Ruptured intracranial fungal mycotic aneurysms have a high mortality rate. It has been reported that the number of opportunistic infections has increased. Here, we report the first case of a patient in which a ruptured fungal carotid artery aneurysm was successfully treated by stent-assisted coil embolization. Case Description: A 76-year-old male receiving dual antiplatelet therapy due to a recent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty presented with blurred vision of the right eye and diplopia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a fungal mass in the sphenoid sinus, and the patient was pathologically diagnosed with invasive aspergillosis. After receiving oral voriconazole for 4 weeks, he was admitted to the hospital with hemorrhagic shock from epistaxis. The right internal carotid artery angiography revealed a de novo irregularly shaped aneurysm at the cavernous portion, projecting into the sphenoid sinus, which was considered to be the source of bleeding. Due to the lack of ischemic tolerance and urgent demand for hemostasis, we performed a stent-assisted coil embolization of the aneurysm without interrupting the blood flow. Postoperatively, the patient had no neurological deficit, and treatment with voriconazole was continued for 12 months without rebleeding. Conclusion: Stent-assisted coil embolization without parent artery occlusion might be a promising option for the urgent treatment of ruptured fungal mycotic aneurysms. Long-term administration of voriconazole might be continued for 12 months for such patients.

Background: Spinal dural defects can result in superficial siderosis (SS) of the central nervous system. Closure of the defect can stop or slow the progression of the disease. Here, we evaluated, whether preoperative three-dimensional fast steady-state acquisition MR could adequately detect these defects and, thus, facilitate their closure and resolution. Case Description: A 65-year-old right-handed male presented with a 33-year history of the left C8 root avulsion and a 3-year history of slowly progressive gait difficulties and hearing loss. The T2*-weighted imaging revealed symmetrical hemosiderin deposition throughout his central nervous system. A left C6-C7 dural defect involving only inner layer was identified using a three-dimensional MR (3D-FIESTA). It was treated through a left C6-7 hemilaminectomy and successfully sealed with adipose tissue and fibrin glue. Subsequently, the progression of cerebellar ataxia was halted, nevertheless the sensorineural hearing loss worsened even over the next 2 years. Conclusion: 3D-FIESTA reconstruction was approved to be useful tool for identifying the tiny hole of the inner dural layer responsible for SS.

Background and Objective: It is well known that systemic arterial calcifications progress simultaneously. And coronary calcifications are a well-known predictor of coronary event in the future. Impact of carotid artery calcifications for cerebral stroke is still controversial among various articles, and the relationship between carotid artery calcifications and systemic vascular events are not known either. In this study, we aim to examine if the carotid calcification can be used as a predictor of systemic vascular events. Methods: This is a prospective study, which enrolled 199 subjects who have already suffered from vascular events, including carotid stenosis, coronary syndromes or stroke. We collected data at entry on risk factors, blood examination, and whole-body computed tomography analysis to assess the calcifications of carotid, coronary, aorta (three distinct part; arch, abdominal, and bifurcation) and renal artery using modified Agatston calcium score (ACS) for each vessel. According to the median carotid ACS, subjects were divided into two groups. And during 5 years of follow up period, cerebrovascular events, coronary events and other systemic vascular events were counted. Results: Carotid ACS has a stronger correlation with aortic ACS than coronary ACS. Hypertension and low renal function have significant impact on increasing carotid ACS, while a diabetes mellitus increase coronary calcification. On Kaplan-Meier estimates, subjects with higher carotid ACS (higher group) suffered more systemic vascular events than lower group (p=0.03, log rank correlation coefficient), and hazard ratio was 1.88 (95%CI; 1.02-3.46). There was no significant difference in the risk of cerebral or coronary events, however, higher group have tendency to be treated for aortic or peripheral arterial disease in the follow up period (HR6.86, 0.9-54.7). Conclusion: Carotid ACS have strong correlation with systemic large vascular bed including aorta, and can be a useful tool to extract a subject who will be suffered from systemic vascular event in the future.

Background Although the incidence is rare, patients with moyamoya disease are at risk of stroke during pregnancy. Therefore, there is limited information regarding appropriate peripartum management. Herein, we report a case of major postpartum cerebral infarction in a patient with moyamoya disease, despite previous direct bilateral anastomosis of the superficial temporal artery to the middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA). Case description The patient was a 32-year-old woman who had undergone direct STA-MCA anastomosis and encephalo-myo-synangiosis in her childhood. This was her second pregnancy. She sustained a major ischemic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery area on postpartum day 3, which resulted in right hemiplegia and aphasia. On magnetic resonance angiography, simultaneous interruption of antegrade flow of the left middle cerebral artery and STA-MCA anastomosis was observed. The patency of these vessels was confirmed before the first pregnancy. The patient’s consciousness was impaired for several days due to edema in the infarct area. However, her condition improved following conservative treatment with osmotic diuretics and antiplatelet therapy; the patient recovered independent gait and her aphasia improved after 5 months of inpatient rehabilitation. Conclusions Careful monitoring of women with moyamoya disease is recommended during pregnancy and the peripartum period even if direct or indirect anastomosis has been previously performed.

Deformed osseous structures have been reported as rare causes of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection, including the styloid process and the hyoid bone. Here, the authors describe the first known case of symptomatic ICA dissection caused by a giant osteophyte due to atlantoaxial osteoarthritis. The left ICA was fixed at the skull base and at the ICA portion compressed by the osteophyte, and it was highly stretched and injured between the two portions during neck rotation. The patient was successfully treated with ligation of the affected ICA following balloon test occlusion. Atlantoaxial osteoarthritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ICA dissection in patients with a severely deformed cervical spine.

Background Occipital sinus (OS) dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is extremely rare, and we are aware of no case accompanied by cerebral hemorrhage. We present a case of OS DAVF presenting with cerebellar hemorrhage, treated successfully by transvenous embolization. Case Description A 62-year-old female presented with headache and nausea of recent onset. Computed tomography revealed left cerebellar hemorrhage with perihematomal edema. Angiography showed OS DAVF fed by bilateral occipital and posterior meningeal arteries, with drainage into the left inferior hemispheric vein and right transverse sinus receiving the shunt flow from OS. The caudal side of the OS was occluded. The inferior hemispheric vein was dilated with 2 varices, and the junction between the OS and right transverse sinus was narrowed. Because the OS was not involved in normal cerebellar drainage, transvenous embolization of the OS was performed. The microcatheter was advanced to the OS from the transverse sinus during balloon occlusion at the confluence of sinuses. Coils were placed in the OS from the caudal to cranial side, and complete occlusion of the shunt was obtained. Conclusions This is the first report of OS DAVF presenting with cerebellar hemorrhage. Transvenous embolization of the affected OS appears ideal when transvenous access is feasible, and the OS is not involved in normal venous drainage of the cerebellum.

Cell-based therapies are attracting attention as alternative therapeutic options for brain damage. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of a combined therapy of cell transplantation and locomotor training by evaluating the neuronal connectivity. We transplanted neural cells derived from the frontal cortex of E14.5 GFP-expressing mice into the frontal lobe of 3-week-old rats with brain injury, followed by treadmill training (TMT) for 14 days. In the TMT(−) group, graft-derived neurites were observed only in the striatum and internal capsule. In contrast, in the TMT(+) group, they were observed in the striatum, internal capsule, and the cerebral peduncle and spinal cord. The length of the longest neurite was significantly longer in the TMT(+) group than in the TMT(−) group. In the TMT(+) group, Synaptophysin+ vesicles on the neuronal fibers around the ipsilateral red nucleus were found, suggesting that neuronal fibers from the grafted cells formed synapses with the host neurons. A functional analysis of motor recovery using the foot fault test showed that, 1 week after the transplantation, the recovery was significantly better in the cell transplantation and TMT group than the cell transplantation only group. The percentage of cells expressing C-FOS was increased in the grafts in the TMT(+) group. In conclusion, TMT promoted neurite extensions from the grafted neural cells, and the combined therapy of cell transplantation and locomotor training might have the potential to promote the functional recovery of rats with brain injury compared to cell transplantation alone.

Background Some mechanical thrombectomy techniques for acute ischemic stroke use a combination of an aspiration catheter and stent retriever. We experienced a rare case of aspiration catheter coil breakage and subsequent retrieval using a stent retriever. Case Description A 79-year-old man suddenly developed somnolence, global aphasia, and right hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed acute infarction of the left frontal lobe and occlusion of the left common carotid artery. Thus, using an aspiration catheter and a stent retriever, mechanical thrombectomy was performed. The stent retriever was deployed from the middle cerebral artery to the internal carotid artery and retracted into the aspiration catheter placed in the internal carotid artery proximal to the thrombus. The catheter was bent during retraction of the stent retriever. After thrombus aspiration, the internal carotid and anterior and middle cerebral arteries were successfully reperfused; however, the stent retriever captured a broken section of the winding coil of the aspiration catheter. We suspected that an X-ray marker on the stent retriever broke the winding coil at the bent segment of the aspiration catheter and the stent captured the broken coil. Conclusions The combined use of an aspiration catheter and a stent retriever may cause unexpected device breakage, especially when the catheter is bent.

Carotid stenosis may occur as a late complication following cervical radiation therapy(RT);however, it may also progress in the early post-RT period. This study aimed to characterize the clinical features associated with the early progression of post-RT carotid stenosis.We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 30 patients who had undergone unilateral or bilateral cervical RT between January 2010 and November 2014. We analyzed the pre- and post-RT stenosis of their carotid arteries using contrast-enhanced computed tomography images. The arteries were classified as progressive or non-progressive according to the presence or absence of stenosis progression within five years after RT. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, we evaluated the following potential clinical risk factors:age;gender;history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, or smoking habit;antiplatelet or statin use;radiation dose;and prior presence of carotid stenosis before RT.In total, we reviewed 57 irradiated carotid arteries and identified 9 with early post-RT progression. Carotid stenosis before RT was observed in 88.9% of arteries in the progressive group but only 2% of arteries in the non-progressive group and it predicted progression(univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses, p0.0001). No other clinical characteristics had a significant association with the progression of carotid stenosis.Prior presence of carotid stenosis may be a risk factor for its early progression after RT. Pre-RT screening of cervical arteries may be useful, and strict management of carotid stenosis is critical in patients with cervical radiation therapy.

Molecularly targeted therapy has been adopted to treat a number of cancers. Bevacizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, is a representative agent used in molecularly targeted therapeutic regimens. However, the therapeutic effect of bevacizumab for the treatment of brain metastases remains unknown. We report the clinical effects of low dose bevacizumab(≤2.5mg/kg/week)to treat recurrent brain metastases.We retrospectively analyzed patients with brain metastases who had been treated with bevacizumab between 2012 and 2016 at our institution. We identified clinical characteristics, including age, gender, primary tumor site, dose of bevacizumab, therapeutic and adverse effects, and magnetic resonance imaging results. The lesions were assessed with the RECIST criteria based on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and FLAIR images. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test and Fisher's exact test.The cohort comprised 26 patients(8 men, 18 women)with a median age of 61 years(range 39-82 years). There were no significant clinical differences between the low dose and non-low dose groups. Patients in the low dose group did not report any adverse effects from bevacizumab. Three patients with brain metastases from colon cancer are illustrated to report the clinical course of low dose bevacizumab.Low dose bevacizumab may be a safe and effective therapeutic option to treat recurrent brain metastases from bevacizumab-sensitive cancers.

The potential for late cerebrovascular events following surgical revascularization presents a challenge in the treatment of pediatric moyamoya disease. Limited information is available on the incidence of such events after direct bypass. The objective of this descriptive study was to examine the incidence of late cerebrovascular events after direct bypass for pediatric moyamoya disease.The study cohort comprised consecutive patients with moyamoya disease who had undergone direct bypass at less than 18 years of age in the authors' institute between 1978 and 2003. They were prospectively followed until the end of the study period or, if applicable, the time of death.Fifty-six of 58 enrolled patients (96.6%) were followed for a mean period of 18.1 years. Four patients experienced late cerebrovascular events, comprising one stroke and three hemorrhages, an average of 13 years after surgery, one of whom experienced a fatal second hemorrhage. The only late ischemic stroke in the cohort occurred after a severe head injury and emergent craniotomy. The incidence of late cerebrovascular events was 0.41% per year (95% confidence interval, 0.15-1.08); 10-year, 20-year, and 30-year cumulative incidences were 1.8%, 7.3%, and 13.1%, respectively.Despite the efficacy of surgical revascularization, pediatric patients remain at risk of future cerebrovascular events, especially hemorrhage, after reaching adulthood and thus require careful long-term follow-up.

Objective Prediction of motor function after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) often poses a diagnostic challenge. This study was performed to investigate whether intraoperative monitoring of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) could predict postoperative motor function recovery. Methods We reviewed 16 consecutive patients undergoing evacuation of supratentorial ICH with hemiplegia between June 2011 and October 2014. Patients were categorized according to the results of MEPs before and after evacuation of hematoma. The correlation between detection of MEPs and prognosis of motor function was analyzed. Results In 10 of 16 cases (62%), stable MEPs were detected before and after evacuation of hematoma, and postoperative motor function was improved in all cases, including 3 cases with severe preoperative motor impairment on manual muscle test (1–2). In 3 cases (19%) in which MEPs were not detected throughout the procedure, motor function was not improved. In the other 3 cases (19%), MEPs were not measured before evacuation of ICH but were detected after evacuation despite poor prognosis of motor function. The results of postevacuation MEPs were considered false-negative results. Predictions using pre-evacuation MEP results were completely consistent with prognosis for recovery, whereas MEPs obtained during and after evaluation were useful for monitoring. Conclusions Intraoperative MEPs may indicate preservation of pyramidal tracts, and pre-evacuation MEPs can predict motor function outcome after ICH surgery.

Published results for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in symptomatic and asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis with diabetes mellitus (DM) are contradictory. To evaluate perioperative and long-term results of CEA in patients with DM, we retrospectively analyzed data of patients with or without DM who underwent CEA in our institute. Between January 2005 and December 2010, 281 consecutive CEAs were performed in 268 patients under general anesthesia. All patients were subject to cardiac work-ups before surgery, and coronary revascularization was performed prior to CEA if patients were diagnosed with significant coronary artery stenosis. Lesion characteristics were assessed by a duplex ultrasound scan, computed tomography angiography (CTA), and plaque imaging on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before surgery, and patients were followed-up by a duplex ultrasound scan at three, six, and 12 months, then yearly, after surgery. Of 281 cases, 136 had DM (48 %). Diabetic patients more frequently had a history of coronary artery disease than non-diabetic patients (48.5 % vs. 36.6 %, P = 0.042). Coronary intervention prior to CEA was more frequently performed in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients (22.1 % vs. 11.0 %, P = 0.013). The incidence of perioperative (30 day) stroke (P = 1.000), death (P = 1.000), and cardiac complications (P = 0.484) did not differ among groups. Follow-up was available in 77.2 % of patients, with a median duration of 50 months (interquartile range, 32.1-67.2 months). The incidence of ipsilateral stroke (P = 0.720), death (P = 0.351), and severe restenosis (peak systolic velocity > 230 cm/sec) (P = 0.905) were not different between groups. DM does not increase the risk of perioperative complications and does not influence long-term outcomes after CEA if preexisting vascular risk factors and cardiac diseases are appropriately evaluated and treated before surgery.

Perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (PNSAH) is a benign form of subarachnoid hemorrhage and is usually not associated with any focal deficit. We describe two rare cases of PNSAH with unilateral third cranial nerve palsy. Both patients were treated conservatively. The outcomes of our two cases were excellent. The third cranial nerve palsy resolved gradually in both patients, suggesting that the prognosis for third cranial nerve palsy concomitant with PNSAH is favorable. Unilateral third cranial nerve palsy may occur as the first clinical manifestation of PNSAH.

This study aimed to elucidate the relationships between preoperative carotid imaging results, histologic characteristics, and surgical treatment outcomes of radiation-induced carotid stenosis (RICS), using control subjects without RICS for comparison.We retrospectively reviewed records of 17 patients who underwent carotid revascularization for 22 instances of RICS, including 10 cases of carotid artery stenting (CAS), 11 cases of carotid endarterectomy (CEA), and 1 case of CEA with retrograde CAS, between July 2004 and April 2013. The controls were 475 patients with no history of radiation therapy who underwent carotid revascularization in a similar period. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography (US), and computed tomography angiography results were correlated with outcomes of histologic analysis of CEA specimens. End points included ipsilateral and contralateral stroke, myocardial infarction, restenosis, in-stent thrombosis, and target lesion revascularization.Vulnerable plaques on carotid MRI (86% vs 64.2%; P = .010) and mobile (27% vs 8.0%; P = .008) and ulcerative (50% vs 15.8%; P.001) plaques on US were more frequent in the RICS group. All revascularization procedures were successful, and no occlusion occurred. Adverse events in the CAS group, including one minor stroke and one transient ischemic attack within 30 days as well as five ipsilateral neurologic events after 30 days, including three minor strokes and two transient ischemic attacks, were significantly more frequent than in the CEA group. All three cases of late ipsilateral stroke displayed vulnerable plaque on preoperative MRI and late in-stent thrombosis or restenosis on US.Our radiologic and histologic analyses revealed that advanced RICS is often accompanied by formation of vulnerable plaque. CEA can prevent undesirable late outcomes in such cases.