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The incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) in Japan has recently decreased. However, trends in the annual rates of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) are unclear because calculations based on follow-up periods are limited to patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. We aimed to clarify current trends in the estimated annual rupture rates of UCAs in Japan and to identify the most relevant contributing factors. We analyzed data from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and records of the Japan Neurosurgical Society. The estimated annual rupture rates of UCAs between 2003 and 2018 were calculated according to age-adjusted mortality rates of SAH and number of treated ruptured cerebral aneurysms (RCAs). We estimated trends in annual rupture rates using sensitivity analysis and assessed associations between estimated annual rupture rates and the prevalences of hypertension and current smoking. The estimated annual rupture rate of UCAs significantly decreased from 1.44 to 0.87% and from 0.92 to 0.76%, respectively, in terms of age-adjusted mortality rates of SAH and number of treated RCAs (p < 0.001). The range of changes in estimated annual rupture rates of UCAs was - 1.13%‒0.83%, representing a declining UCA trend of 88%. The estimated annual rupture rates of UCAs declined by 0.02-0.10% and 0.01-0.05% with every percent decrease in hypertension and current smoking prevalence, respectively. The estimated annual rupture rate of UCAs has recently decreased in Japan, possibly due to a decrease in the prevalence of hypertension rather than smoking., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Although several studies have reported on the impact of the body mass index (BMI) on functional outcome of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), the relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of poor outcome of aSAH, with particular attention to BMI. A total of 860 patients with aSAH were enrolled in our registry at Shimane Prefectural Central Hospital between 2000 and 2017, of whom 393 were included in the analysis. Basic patient characteristics, including BMI, and data related to aSAH were recorded. We conducted a univariable analysis, followed by a multivariable analysis to identify the risk factors of poor outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score > 2 at discharge. We also compared our study with previous studies that reported a relationship between BMI and aSAH. Multivariable analysis revealed that age (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.12), underweight (OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.13-4.90), overweight (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.06-4.64), World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade (III vs I: OR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.03-9.35; IV vs I: OR, 8.02; 95% CI, 3.54-18.19; V vs I: OR, 13.37; 95% CI, 5.33-33.54), and symptomatic vasospasm (OR, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.73-6.70) were risk factors for poor outcome at discharge. This study showed the association of underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 ) and overweight (≥ 25 kg/m 2 ) with poor outcome; therefore, both high and low BMI are associated with a poor outcome at discharge for patients with aSAH. Clinical trial registry: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000035160; date of registration: December 6, 2018)., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This study aimed to assess the risk factors for the recurrence of WHO grade I intracranial meningiomas using the Brain Tumor Registry of Japan (BTRJ) database. We extracted the data of 4641 patients with intracranial WHO grade I meningiomas treated only by surgical resection between 2001 and 2008. We conducted complete data analysis (n = 3690) and multiple imputation analysis (n = 4641) to adjust for missing data on tumor size. The influence of factors including age, sex, size, extent of resection, location, and preoperative symptoms on PFS was assessed. Univariate analyses of the complete data set showed that age did not affect PFS; however, male sex (p < 0.001), tumor size ≥ 30 mm (p < 0.001), low extent of resection, tumor location at the skull base (p < 0.001), and the presence of preoperative symptoms (p < 0.001) were risk factors for a significantly shorter PFS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that male sex (p < 0.001) and presence of preoperative symptoms (p = 0.027) were independent risk factors for shorter PFS alongside large tumor size (p < 0.001) and non-gross total resection (p < 0.001). These results were confirmed for the imputed dataset. While most previous large nationwide studies of meningiomas have evaluated overall survival, progression-free survival has yet to be thoroughly examined. This study suggests that even histologically benign meningiomas may have a sex difference in postoperative behavior. This observation may provide clues to understanding the mechanism of meningioma cell proliferation., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

There has never been evidence for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) by endovascular coiling compared to surgical clipping with all grade. The present study and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the in-hospital mortality and poor outcome in the nationwide databases of patients with all grade aSAH between them. The outcome of modified Rankin scale (mRS) at discharge was investigated according to the comprehensive nationwide database in Japan. The propensity score-matched analysis was conducted among patients with aSAH in this database registered between 2010 and 2015. Meta-analysis of studies was conducted based on the nationwide databases published from 2007 to 2018. According to this propensity score-matched analysis, no significant association for poor outcome of mRS > 2 was shown between surgical clipping and endovascular coiling (47.7% vs 48.3%, p = 0.48). However, significantly lower in-hospital mortality was revealed after surgical clipping than endovascular coiling (7.1% vs 12.2%, p < 0.001). Meta-analysis of propensity score-matched analysis in the nationwide database showed no significant association for poor outcome at discharge between them (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93 to 1.26; p = 0.31). Meta-analysis of propensity score-matched analysis for in-hospital mortality was lower after surgical clipping than after endovascular coiling, however, without significant difference (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.52 to 1.04; p = 0.08). Further prospective randomized controlled study with all grade aSAH should be necessary to validate the in-hospital mortality and poor outcome.

The Japanese population features the highest rate of elderly individuals worldwide. However, the difference of actual age indication for surgical clipping (SC) and endovascular coiling (EC) has never reported. We clarified the effect of actual age on poor outcome at discharge in patients by each treatment for ruptured cerebral aneurysm according to the Japanese Stroke Data Bank. A total of 3593 patients with ruptured saccular cerebral aneurysm were treated by SC and/or EC between 2000 and 2013. The effect of actual age on poor outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS] score > 2) at discharge was evaluated by the cutoff age using receiver operating characteristic analysis for each treatment. There were 2666 cases in the SC group and 881 cases in the EC group. The cutoff age for poor outcome was 3 to 9 years older for EC than for SC. The gap of cutoff age between two treatments was 3 years shorter in mild subarachnoid hemorrhage than severe cases. The gap of cutoff age between two treatments was 7 years in elderly patients over 65 years old. The cutoff age was 78 years old for both SC and EC in elderly female patients. In conclusion, the cutoff age for poor mRS score > 2 was 3 to 9 years older for EC than for SC. Actual age was one of the indications for elderly patients to achieve the optimum outcome; however, the treatment indication should be carefully considered based on the condition in each country.

The outcomes at discharge for ruptured cerebral aneurysms after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were investigated using data from the Japanese stroke databank. Among 101,165 patients with acute stroke registered between 2000 and 2013, 4693 patients had SAH caused by ruptured saccular aneurysm. Of these, 3593 patients (1140 men and 2453 women; mean age 61.3 ± 13.7 years) were treated by surgical clipping (SC) and/or endovascular coiling (EC). The outcomes of modified Rankin scale (mRS) at discharge were compared between the SC and EC groups. There were 2666 cases in the SC group, 881 cases in the EC group, and 46 cases in the SC and EC group. The rates of poor outcome of mRS > 2 were 33.0 and 45.5% in the SC and EC groups (p < 0.05), respectively. Cases were selected using two types of criteria compatible with both treatments. Under the first compatible criteria, the rates of poor outcome of mRS > 2 were 18.9 and 24.8% in the SC and EC groups (p < 0.05), respectively. Under the second compatible criteria, the rates of poor outcome of mRS > 2 were 16.0 and 14.8% in the SC and EC groups (p = 0.22), respectively. No significant differences were found in clinical characteristics or outcomes between the two groups. Multivariate analysis of aneurysmal SAH revealed no significant risk for poor outcome associated with the treatment method. The present study was not a randomized controlled study, but no significant differences in mRS at discharge were found between SC and EC in the Japanese stroke databank.

Dissecting aneurysms in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), although rare, can cause ischemic and/or hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic dissecting aneurysms in the A1 portion of the ACA are often associated with a poor prognosis. We retrospectively investigated three rare cases of hemorrhagic dissecting aneurysms in the A1 portion. Dissecting aneurysms were diagnosed by carotid angiography or computed tomography angiography to visualize morphological changes in the vessel. All patients presented with diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. In one case, computed tomography angiography performed at the onset of the subarachnoid hemorrhage revealed fusiform dilatation at the right ACA (A1), which did not appear on a magnetic resonance angiogram obtained 1 year prior to the onset of the subarachnoid hemorrhage. In the other two cases, A1 dissecting aneurysms were diagnosed from a growing aneurysmal bulge revealed at a non-bifurcated site via repeated carotid angiography. Two patients underwent surgical intervention (trapping or clipping), and their outcome was favorable, whereas the third patient died of delayed rebleeding before receiving surgical treatment. Hemorrhagic dissecting aneurysms in the A1 portion cause severe subarachnoid hemorrhage. Surgical treatments that include revascularization are necessary to prevent rebleeding, and direct surgery is recommended, particularly at the A1 portion.

One of the most important and useful pieces of information in the preoperative evaluation of a large petroclival meningioma is the running course of the abducens nerve. The abducens nerve is small and has a long intracranial course, making it prone to compression by the tumor at various anatomical points. In relatively large tumors, it is difficult to confirm the entire course of the abducens nerve, even by heavy T2-thin slice imaging. We report a case of successful preoperative estimation of the course of the abducens nerve that aided in its complete preservation during the resection of a large petroclival tumor.

A 49-year-old woman with probable moyamoya disease was surgically treated by combined direct and indirect methods, superficial temporal to middle cerebral artery anastomosis and galeoduroencephalosynangiosis by a burr-hole method developed by Kawamoto et al. Transient ischemic attacks and motor weakness of bilateral lower extremities disappeared completely within 1 month and never recurred during 1-year follow-up. Galeoduroencephalosynangiosis by a burr-hole method appears useful for preventing ischemic damage of the territory of the anterior cerebral artery in adult patients with probable moyamoya disease.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare primary cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor that is locally aggressive and has potential for metastatic spread. However, brain metastases are rare, and therapy for such tumors has never reported. The authors present a 48-year-old woman with MCC of the left elbow and a right cerebellar metastasis. After the right cerebellar mass was totally resected, radiation treatment and chemotherapy were performed. Eight cases of brain metastasis have been reported in the literature, but only 5 have been presented in sufficient detail for analysis. Therapy for brain metastases has always been palliative whole-brain irradiation and chemotherapy except for our patient, who underwent total removal of the tumor and survived for 11 months without neurological deficit. Except in the case of 1 with a particularly radiosensitive MCC, the patients with brain metastases died within 9 months after detection of the brain lesions. If possible, aggressive excision of brain metastases as well as of the primary lesion should be done.

Thirty-eight patients with convexity lesions were studied prospectively with the two-dimensional time-of-flight (2D-TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) method. Of these 21 cases had additional surface anatomy scanning (SAS) and 7 cases had three-dimensional phase contrast (3D-PC) MRA. The findings were compared during surgery and the predictability of 2D-TOF evaluated. 2D-TOF was obtained with 2 mm slice thickness after the administration of contrast media for routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cortical veins were visualized with a good resolution with a scan time of only 5 minutes. The tumor was also visible in the background, due to enhancement, and thus the tumor-vessels relation was shown. Slow-flow vessels were also adequately seen. SAS was done at the same sitting with fast spin echo (FSE) with a scan time of 3 minutes. Once both images were incorporated, information on gyri and their relation to the lesions and vasculature could be obtained from a single image. We found 2D-TOF alone, or at times in combination with SAS, useful for planning of operation for convexity lesions.

Prospective three-dimensional phase contrast (3D-PC) MR angiography was obtained in 34 patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and comparison was made between digital substraction angiography (DSA) and three-dimensional time-of-flight (3D-TOF) methods. Velocity encoding (VENC) for 3D-PC was adjusted to 60 and 10 cm/sec., and was changed only when adequate information was not obtained. VENC 60 cm/sec, demonstrated the main feeders in 100% of cases and the nidus in 86% of cases whereas VENC 10 cm/sec. showed the draining vein in 78% of cases. The detection rate of feeder, nidus and drainer was 60%, 40% and 13% respectively by the TOF technique. The mean size of the nidus as compared with DSA as standard was 130% with MRI, 108% with 3D-PC and 92% with the TOF technique and this difference was not statistically significant. 3D-PC was clearly superior in detecting AVM in the presence of hemosiderin, hematoma or surgical clips. It also showed gradual disappearance of the lesion after radiosurgery. We found 3D-PC superior to 3D-TOF in the diagnosis, therapeutic planning and follow-up of AVM.

This study assessed the ability to diagnose carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) non-invasively using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Both three-dimensional time-of-flight (3-D TOF) MRA and three-dimensional phase-contrast (3-D PC) MRA were compared with conventional cerebral angiography in nine patients with CCFs. CCFs were grouped according to Barrow's classification. In all cases, 3-D TOF MRA revealed an inferior petrosal sinus as a draining vein. 3-D PC MRA demonstrated a dilated and tortuous superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) and reflux of the SOV in seven patients. In conclusion, CCFs can be diagnosed with MRA alone by demonstrating the drainging veins.

Orbital apex syndrome is a symptomatologic complex. In this paper, the usefulness of several clinical diagnostic MR methods in preparing for surgery is discussed. These include dynamic MRI and the spoiled GRASS (SPGR) image for a cavernous sinus meningioma presenting with orbital apex syndrome. A 53 year old man, who had right cavernous sinus tumor presenting with orbital apex syndrome, was examined by several new MRI techniques. The tumor was partially removed and fibroblastic meningioma was confirmed pathologically.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and advantages of gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional phase-contrast MR venography for demonstrating the venous systems. The three-dimensional phase-contrast MR venography was performed with a velocity encoding gradient settings from 5 to 20 cm/s on 22 normal subjects. In 8 of normal subjects, gadolinium-enhanced phase-contrast MR venography was performed. 22 subjects (100%) had detectable flow in the sphenoparietal sinus, transverse sinus, basal vein, and internal cerebral vein. With a VENC setting at 10 cm/s, venous system was visualized selectively and clearly. Detection ratio in inferior petrosal sinus, superior petrosal sinus, and superior ophthalmic vein increased from 0% to 25%, from 28.6% to 62.5%, and from 28.6% to 37.5%, respectively, after administration of gadopentate dimeglumine. In conclusion, gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional phase-contrast MR venography was useful for demonstrating the venous systems.