Search

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic radiosurgery (RS) is an effective tool in treating brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Careful study of AVM angiographic characteristics may improve results. OBJECTIVE: To report the long-term outcomes of Gamma Knife RS (GKRS) in brain AVMs, focusing on how the angioarchitectural and hemodynamic parameters of AVMs affect the post-RS results. METHODS: This was a retrospective, longitudinal study of 697 consecutive GKRS treatments of brain AVMs in 662 patients performed at a single center between 1993 and 2005. The mean age of the patients was 37 years; the median AVM volume was 3.6 cm(3); and the mean follow-up was 11 years. Forty-five percent of patients presented with intracranial hemorrhage; 44% underwent embolization; and 7% had multiple RSs. AVM characteristics in the RS-planning angiograms were analyzed, and their relationship to the post-RS obliteration rate was determined by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The obliteration rate after a single RS was 69.3%; after multiple RS, it was 75%. Positive predictors of obliteration included compact nidus (odds ratio = 3.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.92-5.22), undilated feeders (odds ratio = 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.57), smaller AVM volume (odds ratio = 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-0.99), and higher marginal dose (odds ratio = 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.27). Improvement or clinical stability was observed in 89.3% of patients; postprocedural bleeding was noted in 6.1%; and clinical worsening attributable to RS was seen in 3.8%. The annual risk of hemorrhage in the 4 years after RS was 1.2%. CONCLUSION: GKRS yielded a good long-term clinical outcome in most patients. Certain angiographic features of brain AVMs such as a well-defined nidus and undilated feeder arteries contribute to AVM occlusion by RS. GKRS can be regarded as the treatment of choice for AVMs

Ipsilateral chronic carotid occlusion (CCO) can be found in up to 15% of patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and strokes. 1,2 Cervical occlusion is a morbid diagnosis with a high risk (6%-20%) of recurrent strokes and ipsilateral strokes (2%-9.5%). 3-5 The subgroup of patients with severe hemodynamic compromise with CCO is at a higher risk for such events. 6 The effectiveness of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of the extracranial carotid artery is improving as a result of the development of autoexpandable prostheses and new systems of cerebral protection. 7 Currently, this technique constitutes a true alternative to carotid endarterectomy in the treatment of a severe degree of carotid stenosis with a minimum risk of cerebral embolization. 8-10 We attempted endovascular recanalization in select patients with CCO and retrograde ophthalmic artery flow. 11 We present an early report on the safety and efficacy of endovascular recanalization in symptomatic CCO. In this study, we evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular recanalization in CCO with severe hemodynamic compromise. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of patients with symptomatic CCO. We identified 39 patients with CCO who were admitted to our institution after suffering an ischemic event, stroke, or TIA. Neurological evaluation included preprocedural and postprocedural clinical examination and neuropsychological tests. 12 In addition to routine neurological examinations, we focused on cognitive function. We used the Rankin Scale to measures disability scores, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale to detect focal disorder, and the Barthel Scale to evaluate functional incapacity. Minor stroke was defined as an increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of ,3 with complete resolution or no significant disability at 30 days. Major stroke was defined as an increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of $ 3 with significant disability at 30 days. Neuropsychological tests included global cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination of Folstein

A new technique of intratumoral embolization is described. An intratumoral injection of N-butylcyanoacrylate is performed either perioperatively by direct puncture of the tumor or preoperatively through the nose or through the skin. The indications for this technique are hypervascularized tumors, such as juvenile angiofibroma, hemangiopericytoma, or paraganglioma. This technique has been applied in 21 patients with excellent results in terms of devascularization.

Background Giant perimedullary arteriovenous fistulas (GPMAVFs) located in the cervical region are a rare pathology with distinctive characteristics. Objective To evaluate clinical presentation and different endovascular treatment options of cervical GPMAVFs and review previously published data in the literature regarding cervical GPMAVFs. Methods Six patients with cervical GPMAVFs were found in the spinal vascular malformations database of our group collected between 1990 and 2009. Endovascular techniques and treatment outcomes were evaluated and compared with other published series. Results Clinical presentations were progressive motor deficit (5 patients), hematomyelia (1 patient), meningeal syndrome (1 patient), and respiratory arrest and gait apraxia (1 patient). Three patients were treated by the transarterial approach. One patient was treated by the transvenous approach due to previous embolizations resulting in a proximal occlusion and preventing a safe transarterial approach. A transvenous approach was used in another patient due to complex arterial anatomy. In 1 patient, direct percutaneous puncture of the venous pouch was necessary because of previous proximal occlusion of the arteries. All embolizations resulted in complete occlusions with clinical improvement, and there was no recanalization during a mean follow-up of 21 months. Conclusion Transarterial embolization of cervical GPMAVFs is safe and effective when it is done in highly experienced centers. Cervical GPMAVFs that cannot be accessed by the transarterial technique due to their complex angioarchitecture can be treated by transvenous embolization or direct puncture of the venous pouch.

Seven cases of vein of Galen aneurysms treated by percutaneous transvenous endovascular occlusion of the aneurysmal vein are presented. In one case, the approach was via the femoral vein, and in the other six cases, by the jugular vein. All of the malformations were multipedicular and, additionally, in six of the seven there was an intervening arterial-arterial network between the posterior thalamoperforating arteries and the wall of the venous aneurysm. This fistulous network was interpreted as purely arterial and not as an associated arteriovenous malformation. For this reason, the transvenous approach was considered justified, and was performed without risk of hemorrhage caused by retrograde venous hypertension. Measurement of intra-aneurysmal pressure during the course of treatment allowed better understanding of the hemodynamics of the lesions, guided the amount of occlusion to be accomplished during each treatment session, and thus may have prevented the phenomenon of normal perfusion pressure breakthrough. The percutaneous transvenous approach offers all the advantages of the transtorcular approach but avoids surgery. Because of our excellent angiographic and clinical results—five complete and two partial occlusions, with favorable outcomes and no major complications—we believe that this technique is better for the treatment of multipedicular vein of Galen aneurysms than transarterial embolization or surgery.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE Torticollis is a symptom that can be related to different pathological mechanisms ranging from simple to life-threatening conditions. We report a child with recurrent torticollis caused by an intracranial dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm. This is a very rare condition in childhood, and it was resolved successfully with endovascular treatment. CLINICAL PRESENTATION The patient was a 10-year-old boy with a 4-year history of left recurrent torticollis, followed by hemiparesis, dysarthria, dysmetria, and tremor. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and digital angiography detected a dissecting aneurysm involving the fourth segment of the left vertebral artery. INTERVENTION The patient underwent endovascular treatment. Coil embolization, followed by histoacryl injection into the lesion, provided complete obliteration of the aneurysmal sac. CONCLUSION The patient's postoperative course was characterized by a dramatic disappearance of symptoms and signs within a few hours of the intervention. No relapses of symptoms occurred during a follow-up period of 18 months. This is the first report of a child in whom recurrent torticollis was related to a dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm. Although long-term results of vertebral artery coil embolization remain to be elucidated, the method seems reliable and effective in treatment of these vascular lesions in pediatric patients.