Search

Endoscopic surgery, including endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS), requires special psychomotor skills from surgeons. The learning curve in the acquisition of psychomotor skills varies among individuals, and studies about laparoscopy indicate that the difference can be predicted using spatial ability tests. We examined the association between the results of such tests and the learning curve in ETSS to determine the need for a personalized curriculum for ETSS skill training. A total of 30 fifth-year medical students from Kindai University School of Medicine (17 men, 13 women; mean age, 26 years) without ETSS experience completed the spatial orientation test (SOT) for the measurement of spatial visualization ability. They performed the dural incision task (DIT) twice on an ETSS training model for surgical psychomotor skill evaluation. The SOT scores (angle errors) exhibited substantial individual differences in spatial visualization ability, whereas the DIT scores significantly improved in the second trial (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P = 0.0035). However, no significant difference was observed in the DIT scores between the smaller error and larger error groups of the SOT. The results indicated that two DIT trials were sufficient to acquire psychomotor skills for the DIT as the endoscope was almost fixed and learning only one viewpoint and line of sight combination was adequate. In conclusion, a personalized ETSS training program based on the trainee's spatial ability is not necessary for the DIT. Further research is warranted to determine the effect of spatial ability on more complex tasks, such as suturing in cranial base repair.

To effectively treat cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), peri-nidal flow regulation and metabolic status must be understood. In this study, we used 15 O-oxygen positron emission tomography (PET) post-processing analysis to investigate vascular radioactivity in the nidal region of AVMs. Single-dynamic PET imaging was performed on seven unruptured AVM patients during the sequential inhalation of 15 O 2 and C 15 O 2 . A previously validated dual-tracer basis function method (DBFM) was employed to calculate parametric images. The results of our study were as follows. First, in remote and contralateral AVM regions, DBFM and a previous approach of dual-tracer autoradiography (DARG) showed strong positive correlations in cerebral blood flow ( CBF ), cerebral oxygen metabolism rate ( CMRO 2 ), and oxygen extraction fraction. Second, peri-nidal CBF and CMRO 2 correlation was lower, and overestimation occurred with DARG compared to with DBFM. Third, on comparing DBFM to quantitative 123 I-iodoamphetamine single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), CBF correlated significantly. In contrast, the correlation between DARG and quantitative 123 I-iodoamphetamine-SPECT was weaker in the peri-nidal regions. Fourth, analysis of tissue time-activity curves demonstrated good reproducibility using the novel formulation in the control, peri-nidus, and core nidal regions, indicating the adequacy of this approach. Overall, the DBFM approach holds promise for assessing haemodynamic alterations in patients with AVMs., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background/aim: Resection of brain metastases is a well-established treatment modality that can prolong the survival of patients for whom surgery is indicated. Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has been the standard postoperative therapy. In recent years, however, clinicians have increasingly avoided WBRT due to its associated adverse events. This study investigated the impact of postoperative WBRT and systemic chemotherapy as prognostic factors on the survival of patients who had undergone resection of brain metastases., Patients and Methods: The study subjects were 172 patients who underwent surgical resection for brain metastases. Comparative analyses of survival after WBRT and systemic chemotherapy were performed., Results: Postoperative WBRT had no survival-prolonging effect, whereas postoperative systemic chemotherapy prolonged survival. A comparison based on the number of systemic chemotherapy regimens administered prior to surgery showed that fewer regimens correlated with a better prognosis., Conclusion: The addition of WBRT after surgical resection of brain metastases is no longer a standard treatment strategy and systemic chemotherapy after surgery is a positive prognostic factor., (Copyright © 2024 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Surgical extirpation of brain arteriovenous malformations(AVMs)requires precise pre-surgical simulation. Utilizing image software, widely used with picture archiving and communication systems(PACS), surgeons can generate simulation images that precisely illustrate the proper feeders, passing arteries, and drainers. The crucial steps for creating informative simulation images include: (1)the free rotation of reconstructed 3D digital subtraction angiography(DSA)images; (2)removal of irrelevant arteries(the most important procedure); and(3)construction of stereo imagery of the "core images." This article presents a detailed description of these procedures.

Objectives: The characteristics and clinical implications of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) involvement in unilateral moyamoya disease (U-MMD), such as laterality, frequency of the RNF213 p.R4810K mutation, and clinical outcomes, have not been well studied., Population and Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 93 patients with U-MMD who participated in the SUPRA Japan study. Clinical characteristics and radiological examinations were collected from medical records. The presence of the p.R4810K mutation was determined using a TaqMan assay. The clinical outcome was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations., Results: Among the patients with U-MMD, PCA involvement was observed in 60.0 % (3/5) of patients with homozygous mutation, 11.3 % (7/62) of those with heterozygous mutation, and 3.8 % (1/26) of those with wild type, showing a significant linear trend (p < 0.001 for trend). PCA involvement was observed exclusively on the same side as the affected anterior circulation. Dyslipidemia and cerebral infarction at initial onset were independently associated with mRS ≥1. Hypertension was associated with mRS ≥1 and it was also linked to infarction at initial onset, suggesting a potential confounding effect. Although PCA involvement showed a trend for higher mRS, it was not statistically significant., Conclusions: Our findings indicate a gene dose effect of the p.R4810K mutation on PCA involvement, with the homozygous state showing the most significant effect. Both genetic and modifiable factors such as dyslipidemia may influence the progression of U-MMD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no conflict of interest concerning the materials or methods used in this study or the findings specified in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: Choroidal anastomosis is a risk factor for hemorrhage in moyamoya disease. One variant of choroidal anastomosis, "transcallosal anastomosis," originates from the medial posterior choroidal artery, and penetrates the corpus callosum to reconstruct the pericallosal artery. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and the bleeding rate of transcallosal anastomosis using sliding thin-slab maximum intensity projection reformatted from magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)., Materials and Methods: This study included 222 patients. We defined transcallosal anastomosis grades (0-2) and the stenosis of the anterior (ACA, 0-2), middle (MCA, 1-3), and posterior cerebral artery (PCA, 0-2) by MRA scores, independently by two coauthors., Results: Grade-2 transcallosal anastomosis was detected in 21 patients (9.5 %). There were no correlations of the incidence of transcallosal anastomosis with previous bypass surgery (P = 0.23). Multivariate analysis revealed a significantly higher incidence in hemorrhagic onset and younger age (odds ratio [OR] 3.77, and 0.97). Transcallosal anastomosis had statistically significant correlation with ACA and PCA scores (P = 0.01 and 0.03), but not with MCA scores (P = 0.1). In multivariate analysis, ACA scores 1 and 2 were significantly higher (OR, 15.44 and 11.17), and PCA score 1 was also higher (OR, 3.07), but PCA score 2 was not. Interrater agreement for judgment of transcallosal anastomosis grade was strong (κ = 0.89). Two patients with Grade-2 transcallosal anastomosis had late hemorrhage in the corpus callosum (bleeding rate: 2.5 % per year)., Conclusions: Transcallosal anastomosis may be associated with both advanced ACA and moderate PCA stenosis, and cause hemorrhage at the corpus callosum., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There is no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Given the popularity of pterional craniotomy, numerous modifications have been made to prevent postoperative deformities. With the advent of titanium plates, fixation has become both simple and excellent. However, titanium plates can cause skin problems, infection, or cause skull growth to fail., Methods: To develop a simple, cost-effective, and esthetically satisfactory fixation method, without the use of non-metallic materials, six young and older patients underwent pterional craniotomy. CranioFix Absorbable clamps were used to fix the bone flap in the frontal and temporal regions such that the frontal part was in close contact with the skull. After fixation, the bone chips and bone dust were placed in the bone gap and fixed with fibrin glue. We measured the computed tomography values of the reconstructed area and thickness of the temporal profiles postoperatively over time., Results: Bone fusion was achieved in all patients by 1 year after surgery. Both the thickness of the temporalis muscle and the thickness of the temporal profile had changed within 2 mm as compared with the preoperative state., Conclusion: Our simple craniotomy technique, gentle tissue handling, and osteoplastic cranioplasty yielded satisfactory esthetic results and rigidness in pterional craniotomy., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Surgical Neurology International.)

Cognitive impairment in adult patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) is sometimes overlooked and can occur in patients with no ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions. Better profiling and reliable diagnostic methods that characterize the group and associate the impairments and pathology of MMD are required in order to deliver appropriate treatments and support. The potential of 123 I-iomazenil single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for this issue has been reported in some studies, but the universality of this method remains unclear. A multicenter study of adult patients (aged 18-60 years) with MMD who experienced difficulties in social lives despite normal activities of daily living was implemented to delineate the common characteristics of this group of patients. In this study, iomazenil SPECT, besides patient characteristics, cognitive functions, and conventional imaging, was acquired to examine whether this method is suitable as a universal diagnostic tool. A total of 36 patients from 12 institutes in Japan were included in this study. Domain scores of world health organization quality of life 26 indicated low self-rating in physical health and psychological domains. The percentages of patients who had <85 in each index were 27.8%-33.3% in the WAIS-III and 16.7%-47.2% in the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised. The group analysis of iomazenil SPECT demonstrated a decreased accumulation in the bilateral medial frontal areas in comparison with the normal control, whereas there were no specific characteristics on conventional imaging in the cohort. Iomazenil SPECT is a possible universal diagnostic method for the extraction of patients with cognitive impairment in MMD.

Measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) after revascularization for moyamoya disease, as a type of ischemic cerebrovascular disease, is crucial. This study aims to validate our novel technology that combines near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with a frequency filter to extract the arterial component. We measured rCBF before and after revascularization for moyamoya disease and at the end of the surgery using NIRO-200NX (Hamamatsu Photonics, Japan) and indocyanine green (ICG). rCBF was calculated using Fick's principle, change in arterial ICG concentrations, and maximum arterial ICG concentration. rCBF measured with NIRS (rCBF&#95;N) was compared with pre- and postoperative rCBF measured with SPECT (rCBF&#95;S). Thirty-four procedures were analyzed. rCBF&#95;N increased from baseline to end of the surgery (mean difference (MD), 2.99 ml/min/100 g; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.40-5.57 ml/min/100 g on the diseased side; MD, 4.94 ml/min/100 g; 95% CI, 2.35-7.52 ml/min/100 g on the non-diseased side). Similar trends were observed for rCBF&#95;S (MD, 3.98 ml/min/100 g; 95% CI, 2.30-5.67 ml/min/100 g on the diseased side; MD, 2.77 ml/min/100 g; 95% CI, 1.09-4.45 ml/min/100 g on the non-diseased side). Intraclass correlations 3 (ICC3s) between rCBF&#95;N and rCBF&#95;S were weak on the diseased side (ICC3, 0.25; 95% CI, -0.03-0.5; p = 0.07) and the non-diseased side (ICC3, 0.24; 95% CI, -0.05-0.5; p = 0.08). rCBF measurements based on this novel method were weakly correlated with rCBF measurements with SPECT., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Hairdresser dystonia is one of the occupational dystonias and task-specific movement disorders occurring as a result of long-term repetitive cutting with scissors. The task-specific dystonia manifests itself as a loss of voluntary motor control during extensive practice of cutting requiring a high level of technical proficiency. The prevalence rate of hairdresser dystonia is not well-known worldwide. A questionnaire regarding dystonia was prepared for hairdressers. After sending the questionnaires to 800 hairdressers by direct mail, 134 answers were received by mail. Five of the 134 were suspected to have hairdresser-associated focal dystonia. Thus, 3.7% of hairdressers might have task-specific dystonia. This report was limited because of the small number of participants. However, this research is valuable because it was difficult to find a patient with suspected dystonia due to concerns related to job security., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Belgian Neurological Society.)

The revised Japan Stroke Society Guidelines for the Treatment of Stroke were published in Japanese in July 2021. In this article, the extracted recommendation statements are published. The revision keeps pace with the great progress in stroke control based on the recently enacted Basic Act on Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease in Japan. The guideline covers the following areas: primary prevention, general acute management of stroke, ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, asymptomatic cerebrovascular disease, other cerebrovascular disease, and rehabilitation.

Background and Purpose: Choroidal anastomosis, a hemorrhage-prone periventricular collateral manifestation in Moyamoya disease, outflows to the cortex posterior to the central sulcus. The objective of the present study was to test whether the angiographic extent of revascularization posterior to the central sulcus contributes to the postoperative reduction of choroidal anastomosis., Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included choroidal anastomosis-positive hemispheres before direct bypass surgery. The postoperative reduction of choroidal anastomosis was determined by a consensus of 2 raters according to the previous research. An imaging software automatically traced the angiographic revascularization area, which was subsequently divided into anterior and posterior parts by an anatomic line corresponding to the central sulcus. Each area was quantitatively measured as a percentage relative to the whole supratentorial area., Results: Postoperative reduction of choroidal anastomosis was achieved in 68 (85.0%) of the 80 included hemispheres. The revascularization area posterior to the central sulcus was significantly larger in the hemispheres with reduction than in those with no reduction (mean, 15.2% [SD, 7.1%] versus 4.2% [SD, 3.4%], P  < .001), whereas no significant difference was observed in the revascularization area anterior to the central sulcus. Multivariate analysis revealed that the revascularization area posterior to the central sulcus was the only significant factor associated with reduction (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.21-2.03, for every 1% increase)., Conclusions: The results suggest that a larger revascularization posterior to the central sulcus is associated with postoperative reduction of choroidal anastomosis regardless of the extent of anterior revascularization. It might facilitate optimal selection of the revascularization site for preventing hemorrhage., (© 2022 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.)

The rate of recanalization after coil embolization for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) is reported to occur around 11.3%-49%. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the recanalization after coil embolization for UIAs in our institution. We retrospectively investigated 307 UIAs in 296 patients treated at our institution between April 2004 and December 2016. The stent-used cases were excluded. Cerebral angiography and 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF MRA) were used for evaluation of the postoperative occlusion status. Volume embolization ratio (VER), aneurysmal size, neck width, and aspect ratio (AR) were compared between the recanalized and non-recanalized groups. The mean follow-up period ranged from 6 to 172 months (mean: 79.0 ± 39.8 months). Recanalization was noted in 78 (25.4%) aneurysms, and 19 (6.2%) aneurysms required retreatment. There was no aneurysmal rupture during the follow-up period. Univariate analysis showed that the aneurysm size (p < 0.001), neck width (p < 0.001), AR (p = 0.003), and VER (p = 0.012) were associated with recanalization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the AR (p =0.004) and VER (p =0.015) were significant predictors of recanalization. To summarize, a higher AR and a lower VER could lead to recanalization after coil embolization of UIAs. Careful follow-up is required for coiled aneurysms with these features.

Background/aim: Standard treatment options for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) include high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX)-based drug therapy and whole-brain radiation therapy. However, there are many cases in which these standard treatment options are not tolerated for various reasons. In the present study, five cases of refractory/relapsed PCNSL that are difficult to treat with standard treatment were successfully treated by tirabrutinib., Patients and Methods: A total of 5 patients (4 women, 1 man) with refractory (n=3) and relapsed (n=2) PCNSL were included. The patients had a median age of 76 years and a median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of 40. The reasons why standard treatment cannot be given to these patients are the low KPS, renal dysfunction, and resistance to HD-MTX. Administration of a drug via the oral route was challenging in three patients; thus, these patients were administered tirabrutinib in suspension through a nasogastric tube., Results: Imaging findings showed that the patients achieved a 100% response rate to tirabrutinib, with a median survival of 8 months. As symptoms improved, 2 of the 3 patients who were initially administered tirabrutinib via a nasogastric tube were able to receive the drug via the oral route. Three patients developed adverse reactions; however, treatment was not interrupted because they were manageable., Conclusion: Tirabrutinib was effective in the treatment of patients who were unable to receive standard treatment options. Tirabrutinib may be considered one of the novel treatment strategies that could improve the prognosis of PCNSL patients in the future., (Copyright © 2022 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Complications of the superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery(STA-MCA)bypass procedure include skin necrosis, MCA vessel wall injury, and thrombotic occlusion of the anastomotic site. First, deprivation of the STA per se induces ischemia of the skin flap. Skin incisions must be designed carefully to avoid isolating some areas from the blood supply. Secondly, the MCA walls can be extremely thin in moyamoya disease; therefore, the fragile vascular walls must be manipulated gently. The MCA walls should not be grasped directly by forceps. Thirdly, intraluminal thrombi can develop after the completion of the anastomosis. Heparin should be administered intravenously as soon as possible when intraluminal thrombi are detected, followed by aspirin loading via a nasogastric tube. Platelet(white)thrombi are fragile and easily disrupted with mechanical vibration. It is essential to treat them before they develop into a large, firm fibrin thrombus that completely occludes the anastomotic site, which would require suture cutting and surgical thrombus removal.

Background: The procoagulant state in cancer increases the thrombotic risk, and underlying cancer could affect treatment strategies and outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke. However, the histopathological characteristics of retrieved thrombi in patients with cancer have not been well studied. This study aimed to assess the histopathological difference between thrombi in patients with and without cancer., Methods: We studied consecutive patients with acute major cerebral artery occlusion who were treated with endovascular therapy between October 2010 and December 2016 in our single-center registry. The retrieved thrombi were histopathologically investigated with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. The organization and proportions of erythrocyte and fibrin/platelet components were studied using a lattice composed of 10×10 squares., Results: Of the 180 patients studied, 17 (8 women, age 76.5±11.5 years) had cancer and 163 (69 women, age 74.1±11.2 years) did not. Those with cancer had a higher proportion of fibrin/platelets (56.6±27.4% vs 40.1±23.9%, p=0.008), a smaller proportion of erythrocytes (42.1±28.3% vs 57.5±25.1%, p=0.019), and higher serum D-dimer levels (5.9±8.2 vs 2.4±4.3 mg/dL, p=0.005) compared with the non-cancer cases. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the cut-off ratio of fibrin/platelet components related to cancer was 55.7% with a sensitivity of 74.8%, specificity 58.8% and area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.67 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.81), and the cut-off ratio of erythrocyte components was 44.7% with a sensitivity of 71.2%, specificity 58.9% and AUC value of 0.66 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.80)., Conclusions: Thromboemboli of major cerebral arteries in patients with cancer were mainly composed of fibrin/platelet-rich components., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: Although intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) without retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage (Borden type I) is reported to have a benign nature, no study has prospectively determined its clinical course. Here, we report a 3-year prospective observational study of Borden type I DAVF., Methods: From April 2013 to March 2016, consecutive patients with DAVF were screened at 13 study institutions. We collected data on baseline characteristics, clinical symptoms, angiography, and neuroimaging. Patients with Borden type I DAVF received conservative care while palliative intervention was considered when the neurological symptoms were intolerable, and were followed at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after inclusion., Results: During the study period, 110 patients with intracranial DAVF were screened and 28 patients with Borden type I DAVF were prospectively followed. None of the patients had conversion to higher type of Borden classification or intracranial hemorrhage during follow-up. Five patients showed spontaneous improvement or disappearance of neurological symptoms (5/28, 17.9%), and 5 patients showed a spontaneous decrease or disappearance of shunt flow on imaging during follow-up (5/28, 17.9%). Stenosis or occlusion of the draining sinuses on initial angiography was significantly associated with shunt flow reduction during follow-up (80.0% vs 21.7%, p = 0.02)., Conclusion: In this 3-year prospective study, patients with Borden type I DAVF showed benign clinical course; none of these patients experienced conversion to higher type of Borden classification or intracranial hemorrhage. The restrictive changes of the draining sinuses at initial diagnosis might be an imaging biomarker for future shunt flow reduction., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

While endovascular coil embolization has become one of the major therapeutic modalities for intracranial aneurysms, long-term imaging follow-up is required because of the higher rate of retreatment compared with surgical clipping. The purpose of this study was to show the usefulness of craniograms to discriminate coiled intracranial aneurysms that required retreatment. Under the study protocol approved by institutional review board, a retrospective review of the medical record was done regarding coil embolization for intracranial aneurysms performed between January 2014 and December 2018. Coil embolization performed as the initial treatment and followed up for more than 1 year without additional treatment, and those performed as retreatment after the initial coil embolization performed at our institution were recruited. Craniograms obtained just after the initial treatment were compared with those obtained just before the additional treatment in the retreated cases and compared with the latest ones in the non-recurrence cases. Correlation between the morphological changes in the coil mass on the craniograms and retreatments was evaluated. During the study period, 288 coil embolization procedures for intracranial aneurysms were performed. From these, 191 treatments that were followed up for more than 1 year without any additional treatments and 30 retreatments were included. Morphological change of the coil mass was observed in 4 of the 191 non-recurrence treatments and 26 of the 30 retreatments, which was significantly correlated with retreatments (p <0.001). Craniogram was a useful modality in following up the coiled intracranial aneurysms to detect those required retreatments.

Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Objective: Transvenous embolization (TVE) is typically used in combination with the residual shunt of transarterial embolization (TAE) for the treatment of direct carotid-cavernous fistulas (direct CCFs). This report is about our additional embolization method using combination therapy., Case Presentation: Five consecutive cases of direct CCF were presented; two were caused by aneurysms and three by head injuries. The treatment for each was started with TAE, with the addition of TVE if a shunt remained. At the time of TVE, a microcatheter positioned in the internal carotid artery passing from the cavernous sinus through the aneurysm neck or fistula was pulled back (pull-back method). It was then placed in the coil mass with TAE, and additional coils were filled. In two cases, the shunt disappeared by using only TAE, whereas it disappeared after being additionally embolized by the pull-back method in the remaining cases. All patients recovered with no postoperative complications., Conclusion: The TAE and TVE combination therapy with the pull-back method could efficiently embolize the residual shunt after TAE., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (©2022 The Japanese Society for Neuroendovascular Therapy.)

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of interventional radiology (IVR) for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) later than 3 days after onset., Methods: A total of 71 patients between 2012 and 2017 who underwent endovascular coiling were divided into two groups according to the timing of treatment: Group E (treated within 3 days after onset) and group D (treated between 4 and 14 days after onset), and the outcomes between two groups were compared. A case-matched study was conducted to minimize the selection bias lying in this cohort., Results: There were 56 (78.9%) and 15 (21.1%) patients in groups E and D, respectively. In group D, all patients arrived at the hospital later than 3 days after onset. The rates of patients with WFNS grade 1, 2, 3 and the presence of vasospasm upon the access route to the targeted aneurysm at the time of IVR were significantly higher in group D than in group E (93.3% vs 60.7%; p = 0.027, 33.3% vs 3.6%; p = 0.0037, respectively). There were no significant differences in the rate of intraprocedural complications, symptomatic vasospasm, delayed cerebral infarction due to vasospasm, retreatment, or modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge. After propensity score matching, there were no significant differences in the outcomes between two groups., Conclusion: Prompt coiling for patients with ruptured aneurysms who arrived later than 3 days after onset can be safely performed, even if they had vasospasm upon the access route., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (©2022 The Japanese Society for Neuroendovascular Therapy.)

Each year, the Japan Neurosurgical Society (JNS) reports up-to-date statistics from the Japan Neurosurgical Database regarding case volume, patient demographics, and in-hospital outcomes of the overall cohort and neurosurgical subgroup according to the major classifications of main diagnosis. We hereby report patient demographics, in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, purpose of admission, number of medical management, direct surgery, endovascular treatment, and radiosurgery of the patients based on the major classifications and/or main diagnosis registered in 2018 and 2019 in the overall cohort (523283 and 571143 patients, respectively) and neurosurgical subgroup (177184 and 191595 patients, respectively). The patient demographics, disease severity, proportion of purpose of admission (e.g., operation, 33.9-33.5%) and emergent admission (68.4-67.8%), and in-hospital mortality (e.g., cerebrovascular diseases, 6.3-6.5%; brain tumor, 3.1-3%; and neurotrauma, 4.3%) in the overall cohort were comparable between 2018 and 2019. In total, 207783 and 225217 neurosurgical procedures were performed in the neurosurgical subgroup in 2018 and 2019, respectively, of which endovascular treatment comprised 19.1% and 20.3%, respectively. Neurosurgical management of chronic subdural hematoma (19.4-18.9%) and cerebral aneurysm (15.4-14.8%) was most common. Notably, the proportion of management of ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack, including recombinant tissue plasminogen activator infusion and endovascular acute reperfusion therapy, increased from 7.5% in 2018 to 8.8% in 2019. The JNS statistical update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, neurosurgeons, healthcare administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on neurosurgical practice.

Background: We aimed to identify the large ischemic core (LIC) volume ranges in acute ischemic stroke patients that can benefit from mechanical thrombectomy (MT)., Methods: Consecutive patients within 24 hours of onset of anterior circulation ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion and ischemic core volumes of 70-300 mL were included from our single-center prospective database from March 2014 to December 2019. Subjects were divided into three groups by baseline ischemic core volume (A: 70-100 mL; B: 101-130 mL; C: >130 mL). We compared modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0-2 at 3 months and parenchymal hematoma between patients receiving MT and standard medical treatment (SMT), and determined clinically treatable core volume ranges for MT., Results: Of 157 patients (86 women; median age, 81 years; median ischemic core volume, 123 mL), 49 patients underwent MT. In Group A (n=52), MT patients (n=31) showed a higher proportion of mRS 0-2 at 3 months (52% vs 5%, P<0.05) versus SMT, respectively. Group B (n=36) MT patients (n=14) also had a higher proportion of mRS 0-2 at 3 months (29% vs 9%, P=0.13) versus SMT, respectively. In Group C (n=69), only four patients received MT. The 95% confidence intervals for the probability of mRS 0-2 at 3 months in patients with MT (n=49) versus SMT (n=108) intersected at 120-130 mL., Conclusions: Ischemic core volumes between 70 and 100 mL may benefit from MT. The treatable upper core limit is approximately 120 mL in selected patients with LIC of 70-300 mL., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The goal of dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) treatment is obliteration of the arteriovenous shunt and/or retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage (RLVD). Single-session obliteration could improve symptoms early and reduce risk of neurological sequelae. This study investigated the efficacy and adverse events of endovascular therapy (EVT) aiming for single-session obliteration in dAVF treatment. We retrospectively examined post-treatment arteriovenous shunt status, number of treatments per case, treatment-related complications, and long-term outcome in 92 dAVF patients who underwent initial EVT at our institution. Single-session obliteration was intended in all cases, but a second session was performed in cases of partial shunt occlusion or remaining RLVD. Complete occlusion was achieved in 85 cases (92.4%) after the single session; RLVD was obliterated in 66 of the 67 Borden type II and III cases combined (98.5%). A second session was necessary in seven cases (7.6%). Complete shunt obliteration was eventually achieved in all cases. The average number of treatments was 1.08 per case. dAVF-related stroke and mortality did not occur after the treatment. On the other hand, radiation-induced skin erythema and alopecia, although all symptoms were transient, occurred in 26 cases (28.3%). Over an average 60.2-month follow-up period, recurrence was observed in seven cases (7.6%). Single-session obliteration was successful in 92% of cases. Especially, single-session obliteration of RLVD may contribute to early prevent of future stroke events. However, reducing total radiation dose during each session is an issue of further study.

Objective: Although many studies have analyzed risk factors for contralateral progression in unilateral moyamoya disease, they have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to examine whether genetic factors as well as nongenetic factors are involved in the contralateral progression., Methods: The authors performed a multicenter cohort study in which 93 cases with unilateral moyamoya disease were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic features, RNF213 R4810K mutation, lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking, past medical history, and angiographic findings were analyzed. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to find risk factors for contralateral progression., Results: Contralateral progression was observed in 24.7% of cases during a mean follow-up period of 72.2 months. Clinical characteristics were not significantly different between 67 patients with the R4810K mutation and those without it. Cox regression analysis showed that the R4810K mutation (hazard ratio [HR] 4.64, p = 0.044), childhood onset (HR 7.21, p < 0.001), male sex (HR 2.85, p = 0.023), and daily alcohol drinking (HR 4.25, p = 0.034) were independent risk factors for contralateral progression., Conclusions: These results indicate that both genetic and nongenetic factors are associated with contralateral progression of unilateral moyamoya disease. The findings would serve to help us better understand the pathophysiology of moyamoya disease and to manage patients more appropriately.

Background/aim: Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) with hydrocephalus is particularly difficult to treat, and its prognosis is extremely poor. The therapeutic outcomes of 14 patients with LMC-associated hydrocephalus who were treated with cerebrospinal fluid shunting are reported., Patients and Methods: The study subjects were 14 LMC patients with solid primary cancer who had developed hydrocephalus., Results: Postoperatively, both symptoms and Karnofsky performance status improved in 100% of patients. Postoperative therapy consisted of whole-brain radiotherapy in 4 cases and molecular targeted therapy in 4, with 6 patients not receiving any postoperative treatment. Median overall survival was 3.7 months, with no significant difference between those who underwent postoperative therapy and those who did not. However, two of those who received molecular targeted therapy survived for more than one year., Conclusion: Cerebrospinal fluid shunting for LMC-associated hydrocephalus is an effective therapeutic procedure from the palliative viewpoint. Patients for whom molecular targeted therapy is indicated may have better long-term survival., (Copyright © 2021 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Objective: Patients with intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) may have a higher risk of early recurrent embolism (ERE) because of delayed initiation of anticoagulants. We assessed the rate of ischemic events in the early period after MT and the association with post-MT ICH., Methods: Patients who underwent MT in our institute were retrospectively reviewed. ERE was defined as recurrent ischemic stroke and systemic embolism within 14 days after MT. The association between ERE and parenchymal hematoma (PH) was assessed. Multivariable regression analysis and inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics between patients with and without PH., Results: A total of 307 patients (median age, 78 years; female, 47%; median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 19) were included. ERE was observed in 12 of 307 patients (8 strokes, 4 systemic embolisms; 3.9%). Median time from MT to ERE was 6.5 days (IQR, 3-8 days). PH occurred in 21 patients (6.8%). Median time from MT to initiating oral anticoagulants was longer in patients with PH (8 days) than in those without (3 days) (p < 0.01). In both unweighted and weighted multivariable analysis, PH was significantly associated with an increased risk of ERE (unweighted odds ratio, 10.60; 95% CI, 2.66-42.23; weighted odds ratio, 12.34; 95% CI, 2.49-61.07)., Conclusions: ERE occurred in about 4% of patients after MT. PH after MT was associated with delayed initiation of oral anticoagulants and an increased risk of recurrent ischemic events., Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02251665., (© 2021. Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Several basic experimental studies have demonstrated that statins have beneficial effects for intracranial aneurysm (IA). Clinical studies on unruptured IAs, however, remain limited to four retrospective studies that have reached different conclusions. This study was the first open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial to assess the preventive effects of atorvastatin. Patients with unruptured small saccular IAs were randomly assigned to statin and control groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of aneurysm growth of ≥0.5 mm, new bleb formation confirmed from magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, and rupture. Enrollment was prematurely terminated due to unexpectedly slow enrollment. Of 231 patients (275 target IAs), 110 patients (128 IAs) were randomly assigned to the statin group and 121 patients (147 IAs) to the control group. After excluding 22 dropout patients, 107 IAs in the 93 statin group patients and 140 IAs in the 116 control group patients were finally analyzed. No significant differences of basic characteristics were evident between groups, except for significantly higher systolic pressure in the statin group (P = 0.03). The primary endpoint occurred in 28 IAs (20.0%) in the control group and in 17 IAs (15.9%) in the statin group. No aneurysm rupture was confirmed in either group. Significant beneficial effects of statin for IAs were not demonstrated for the primary endpoint (log-rank P = 0.359). This randomized trial did not establish any preventive effects of atorvastatin for unruptured small IAs. Further studies of larger cohorts are required to clarify the efficacy of statins for patients with unruptured IAs. Clinical trial registration: UMIN000005135.

Aim: The number of maternal deaths due to pregnancy-associated hemorrhagic stroke has not decreased despite a gradual decrease of maternal death in Japan. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy-associated hemorrhagic stroke., Methods: This retrospective study analyzed pregnancy-associated hemorrhagic stroke patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy between 2013 and 2017 among 407 Japanese maternal and perinatal centers. Patients were divided into good or poor outcome groups and their maternal backgrounds and neonatal prognoses were compared., Results: We analyzed 61 cases, including 41 survival and 20 death cases, obtained from a secondary survey. Among the 61 hemorrhagic stroke cases, 62% were related to hypertensive disorders. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were observed in 75% of death cases. Use of MgSO 4 or antihypertensive medication did not differ between the poor and good outcomes groups. In cases with antepartum onset of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, outcomes were poor in 12 and good in 6 cases. Nine patients with poor outcomes and one with a good outcome had hypertension at the outpatient department without systemic evaluation (p = 0.043). Six poor outcomes patients and one good outcome spent more than 1 day from diagnosis at an outpatient clinic. Neurosurgery was performed in 11 poor outcome patients., Conclusion: Pregnant women who present with a hypertensive disorder at an outpatient clinic probably need to undergo blood tests and careful observation. Delayed systemic evaluation and intensive care for only a few days may result in the development of hemorrhage., (© 2021 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objectives: As the number of patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has been increasing, treatment of LVAD-related ischemic stroke is becoming a critical issue. We sought to clarify the features of mechanical thrombectomy in LVAD-related stroke with large vessel occlusion., Methods: In a multi-center, retrospective case-control study, we compared 20 LVAD-related strokes with 33 non-LVAD strokes, all of which had large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation treated with mechanical thrombectomy. A comparative histopathological examination of the retrieved thrombi was also performed., Results: Successful reperfusion was achieved in 75% of the LVAD-related strokes. The time from onset to reperfusion was similar to that of non-LVAD strokes, but the total number of device passes required for reperfusion (median, 2.5 versus 1, P = 0.01) and the incidences of post-procedural parenchymal and subarachnoid hemorrhage (25% versus 3%, P = 0.02 and 55% versus 15%, P = 0.01, respectively) were higher in LVAD-related strokes. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 4 patients (20%) with LVAD-related strokes. The histopathological analysis revealed that the ratio of erythrocyte components was significantly lower in thrombi retrieved from patients with LVAD-related stroke than in those with non-LVAD stroke (19 ± 6% versus 41 ± 17%, P = 0.01)., Conclusions: Mechanical thrombectomy is feasible in patients with LVAD-related stroke. However, repetitive device passes are needed to achieve successful reperfusion mainly because of the structurally organized thrombi, and the higher risk of hemorrhagic complications should be considered, while offering this therapeutic alternative., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The number of elderly patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage is increasing. Elderly patients have been postulated to benefit more from endovascular coiling, compared with neurosurgical clipping. However, we based our therapeutic modality on the morphology and location of the aneurysms, rather than patients' age or their World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of our therapeutic modality over earlier approaches by assessing their clinical outcomes., Methods: The study sample included 539 patients who underwent surgical procedures between January 2010 and May 2019. Baseline characteristics, aneurysmal morphology and location, surgical and clinical complications, and clinical outcomes were compared between elderly (defined as aged 75 years or older) and young patients., Results: There were 124 elderly patients (23.0%) in the sample. Eighty-five elderly patients (68.5%) received neurosurgical clipping, whereas 67.0% of the young patients (P = 0.827) received neurosurgical clipping. Of the elderly patients who had a poor World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade, 49.4% and 48.7% underwent neurosurgical clipping and endovascular coiling, respectively (P = 1.000). Elderly patients had fewer favorable outcomes (21.8%) relative to young patients (61.8%; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the rate of favorable outcomes between patients undergoing neurosurgical clipping relative to endovascular coiling (21.2% vs. 23.1%; P = 0.818)., Conclusions: Neurosurgical clipping and endovascular coiling yield comparable clinical outcomes in elderly and young patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. These findings indicate that using a therapeutic modality based on aneurysmal morphology and location may be an effective treatment approach., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hashimoto's disease has reportedly been associated with stroke; however, cerebrovascular morphology and clinical course remain poorly documented. The present study aimed to determine the angiographic features and clinical outcomes of intracranial arterial stenosis (IAS) associated with Hashimoto's disease in a retrospective cohort., Methods: Overall, 107 adult patients with IAS were screened for anti-thyroid antibodies; of these, 26 patients tested positive. The 42 affected hemispheres were classified into subgroups according to the steno-occlusion site and the development of abnormal collateral (moyamoya) vessels. These subgroups were dichotomized into moyamoya vessels positive (MM type) and negative (non-MM type). The initial presentation, IAS progression, and vascular events during the follow-up period were compared., Results: The following sites of stenosis were identified: the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery in 11 (26.2%), M1 or A1 in 29 (69.0%), and more distal (M2-M4/A2-A4) in 2 (4.8%) hemispheres. Further, 17 hemispheres were categorized into the MM type and 25 were classified into the non-MM type. During the follow-up period (mean 2.5 years), IAS progression was identified in 8 (32%) hemispheres of the non-MM type and 0 (0%) hemispheres of the MM type (p = 0.041). Ischemic attacks occurred in 5 (20.0%) hemispheres of the non-MM type (4.6%/year) and 0 hemispheres of the MM type (p = 0.08). Further, 4 (23.5%) hemispheres of the MM type experienced intracerebral hemorrhage, whereas none of the non-MM type hemorrhaged (p = 0.012)., Conclusions: Hashimoto's disease-associated IAS exhibits various angiographic morphologies, resulting in different clinical presentations. Screening for anti-thyroid antibodies and careful management based on vascular morphology appears important in adults with IAS.

Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) should be triaged to an endovascular-capable hospital by the emergency medical service (EMS). We designed a prehospital LVO prediction scale based on EMS assessments. In the derivation cohort, 1157 patients transferred to our hospital by the EMS because of suspected stroke within 24 h of onset were retrospectively examined. Factors associated with AIS due to LVO were identified based on the EMS assessment, and a prehospital scale identifying LVO was developed. The accuracy of this scale was validated in 502 consecutive patients who were transferred to 4 stroke centers, and its accuracy was compared with those of 4 previously reported scales. AIS due to LVO was diagnosed in 149 of 1157 patients (13%) in the derivation cohort. One point each was assigned for facial palsy, arm weakness, consciousness impairment (cannot say his/her name), atrial fibrillation, and diastolic blood pressure ≤ 85 mmHg, with two points for conjugate eye deviation (FACE 2 AD scale). In the derivation cohort, with the optimal cut-point of FACE 2 AD ≥ 3 determined by the area under the curve (AUC; 0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.87-0.90), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for FACE 2 AD to predict LVO were 0.85, 0.80, 0.39, and 0.97, respectively. In the validation cohort, the FACE 2 AD scale had higher accuracy, with an AUC value of 0.84 for predicting LVO compared with the other scales (all p < 0.01). The FACE 2 AD scale is a simple, reliable tool for identifying AIS due to LVO by the EMS.

Backgrounds: Periventricular anastomosis (PA), which is a novel term for extended collateral vessels in moyamoya disease (MMD), is reportedly associated with a high risk of intracranial hemorrhage in adult patients. The present study aimed to clarify the similarities and the differences in the development of PA between three MMD groups, classified by age at the time of diagnosis and clinical phenotype., Methods: This study included 232 hemispheres of 132 patients with MMD who underwent surgical revascularization. The subjects were classified into child ischemic (CI) group, adult ischemic (AI) group, and adult hemorrhagic (AH) group. We evaluated the lenticulostriate (LSA), thalamic (THA), choroidal (ChA), anterior choroidal (AChA), and posterior choroidal (PChA) anastomosis as well as the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) involvement. The PA scores and the sums of each grade of LSA, THA, and ChA anastomosis were also calculated in all of the cases., Results: In a multiple comparison test, the PA scores (P < 0.01), LSA (P < 0.01), and ChA anastomosis (P = 0.013) were more prominent in the CI than in the AI group. The PA scores (P < 0.01) and LSA (P = 0.011), ChA (P < 0.01), AChA (P < 0.01), and PChA anastomosis (P = 0.016) were more prominent in the AH group than in the AI group. The CI and AH groups showed similar characteristics except for PCA involvement. After multivariate adjustments using the AI group as a reference group, the PA scores and the positive rates of LSA and ChA anastomosis remained significantly higher in the CI and AH groups., Conclusion: The patterns of PA development in the CI and AH groups were similar in that they were more prominent than in the AI group. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the progression of ischemic and hemorrhagic MMD.

The Japan Neurosurgical Database (JND) is a prospective observational study registry established in 2017 by the Japan Neurosurgical Society (JNS) to visualize real-world clinical practice, promote science, and improve the quality of care and neurosurgery board certification in Japan. We summarize JND's aims and methods, and describes the 2018 survey results. The JND registered in-hospital patients' clinical data mainly from JNS training institutions in 2018. Caseload, patient demographics, and in-hospital outcomes of the overall cohort and a neurosurgical subgroup were examined according to major classifications of main diagnosis. Neurosurgical caseload per neurosurgeon in training in core hospitals in 2018 was calculated as an indicator of neurosurgical training. Of 523,283 cases (male 55.3%) registered from 1360 participating institutions, the neurosurgical subgroup comprised of 33.9%. Among the major classifications, cerebrovascular diseases comprised the largest proportion overall and in the neurosurgical subgroup (53.1%, 41.0%, respectively), followed by neurotrauma (19.1%, 25.5%), and brain tumor (10.4%, 12.8%). Functional neurosurgery (6.4%, 3.7%), spinal and peripheral nerve disorders (5.1%, 10.1%), hydrocephalus/developmental anomalies (2.9%, 5.3%), and encephalitis/infection/inflammatory and miscellaneous diseases (2.9%, 1.6%) comprised smaller proportions. Most patients were aged 70-79 years in the overall cohort and neurosurgical subgroup (27.8%, 29.4%). Neurotrauma and cerebrovascular diseases in the neurosurgical subgroup comprised a higher and lower proportion, respectively, than in the overall cohort in elderly patients (e.g. 80 years, 46.9% vs. 33.5%, 26.8% vs. 54.4%). The 2018 median neurosurgical caseload per neurosurgeon in training was 80.7 (25-75th percentile 51.5-117.5). These initial results from 2018 reveal unique aspects of neurosurgical practice in Japan.

Background: Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovascular disease characterized by bilateral stenosis of the intracranial internal carotid arteries and an abnormal collateral vascular network at the base of the brain. Transient neurological events (TNEs), which are episodes of neurological dysfunction lasting <24 hours, are associated with stroke in pediatric patients with Moyamoya disease. Perioperative agitation often occurs in pediatric patients. We hypothesized that anesthetic technique and postoperative sedation would modify the association between TNE and superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass in pediatric patients with Moyamoya disease., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with Moyamoya disease aged 15 years and below who underwent STA-MCA bypass under general anesthesia at a single cerebrovascular center in Japan between January 1999 and March 2016. The primary outcome was TNE. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to evaluate whether postoperative sedation and anesthetic agents were associated with TNE., Results: Among 277 hemispheres in 154 pediatric patients who underwent STA-MCA bypass, 107 patients (39%) experienced TNE within 1 week after surgery. Crying (adjusted odds ratio, 3.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-9.59; P=0.048) was an independent risk factor for TNE. Postoperative sedation was associated with a lower incidence of TNE (adjusted odds ratio, 0.514; 95% confidence interval, 0.264-0.997; P=0.049), but premedication and anesthetic agents were not associated with TNE., Conclusion: In pediatric patients with Moyamoya disease, crying was associated with increased TNE and postoperative sedation is associated with decreased TNE.

Objective: Here, the authors aimed to determine whether the presence of cerebral hemodynamic failure predicts subsequent bleeding attacks and how it correlates with the effect of direct bypass surgery in hemorrhagic moyamoya disease., Methods: Data from the Japanese Adult Moyamoya (JAM) Trial were used in this study: 158 hemispheres in 79 patients. A newly formed expert panel evaluated the SPECT results submitted at trial enrollment and classified the cortical hemodynamic state of the middle cerebral artery territory of each hemisphere into one of the following three groups: SPECT stage (SS) 0 as normal, SS1 as decreased cerebrovascular reserve (CVR), and SS2 as decreased CVR with decreased baseline blood flow. In the nonsurgical cohort of the JAM Trial, the subsequent hemorrhage rate during the 5-year follow-up was compared between the SS0 (hemodynamic failure negative) and SS1+2 (hemodynamic failure positive) groups. The effect of direct or combined direct/indirect bypass surgery on hemorrhage prevention was examined in each subgroup., Results: The hemodynamic grade was SS0 in 59 (37.3%) hemispheres, SS1 in 87 (55.1%), and SS2 in 12 (7.6%). In the nonsurgical cohort, subsequent hemorrhage rates in the SS0 and SS1+2 groups were 12 cases per 1000 person-years and 67 cases per 1000 person-years, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that hemorrhagic events were significantly more common in the SS1+2 group (p = 0.019, log-rank test). Cox regression analysis showed that hemodynamic failure was an independent risk factor for subsequent hemorrhage (HR 5.37, 95% CI 1.07-27.02). In the SS1+2 subgroup, bypass surgery significantly suppressed hemorrhagic events during 5 years (p = 0.001, HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.04-0.57), with no significant effect in the SS0 group (p = 0.655, HR 1.56, 95% CI 0.22-11.10). Examination of effect modification revealed that the effect of surgery tended to differ nonsignificantly between these two subgroups (p = 0.056)., Conclusions: Hemodynamic failure is an independent risk factor for subsequent hemorrhage in hemorrhagic moyamoya disease. Direct bypass surgery showed a significant preventive effect in the hemodynamically impaired hemispheres. Thus, hemodynamic failure, as well as previously proposed factors such as choroidal anastomosis, should be considered for the surgical indication in hemorrhagic moyamoya disease.Clinical trial registration no.: C000000166 (umin.ac.jp).

Endosaccular coiling is recognized as a feasible method for treating unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). We retrospectively reviewed cases of UIAs treated by coiling in the Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy (JR-NET) 3, a nationwide survey of NET between 2010 and 2014, the beginning period of intracranial stents in Japan. Data were extracted for 6844 UIAs (6619 procedures) from 40,169 registered records of all NETs in the JR-NET 3 databases. The features of the aneurysms and procedures, immediate radiographic findings, procedure-related complications, and clinical outcomes at 30 days after the procedures were assessed. Of 6844 UIAs, 81.8% were located in the anterior circulation. The mean patient age was 61.3 years (72.4% females). Compared with the preceding JR-NET 1 and 2, there were significant increases (P <0.05) in the rates of the following in JR-NET 3: wide-necked and small UIAs measuring <10 mm (from 56.4% to 58.8%), adjunctive techniques (54.8% to 71.8%), and stent usage (1.1% to 22.1%). Both pre- (85.6% to 96.7%) and post-procedural (84.0% to 94.6%) antiplatelet therapy were more frequently administered in JR-NET 3. Although procedure-related complication rates did not differ between the two groups, ischemic complication rates increased from 4.6% to 5.9%, leading to an increase in the 30-day morbidity (modified Rankin Scale >2) from 2.1% to 2.8%. In conclusion, introduction of neck-bridge stent was associated with an increase in cases of wide-necked aneurysms. However, the ischemic complication rate increased despite the greater use of periprocedural antiplatelet therapy.

Background: The clinical significance of asymptomatic microbleeds in moyamoya disease remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between bypass surgery and the incidence of asymptomatic microbleeds., Methods: This retrospective study included 142 adult patients (mean age, 37.7 ± 13.5 years) with moyamoya disease, 36 of whom (25.3%) underwent bypass surgery in childhood. Hemorrhagic onset was diagnosed in 31 patients (21.8%). The incidence of microbleeds was evaluated on T2*-weighted or susceptibility-weighted imaging from 3-T magnetic resonance imaging. The patients were subsequently categorized into MBs (microbleeds) or non-MBs groups. Because previous microbleeds potentially lead to hemorrhage, the MBs group was defined as patients with radiographic evidence of bleeding, including asymptomatic microbleeds and/or hemorrhagic onset. The association of baseline characteristics was evaluated., Results: Asymptomatic microbleeds were detected in 38 patients (26.8%). Of 31 patients with hemorrhagic onset, 18 had microbleeds, whereas 13 had no microbleeds. Therefore, 51 patients (35.9%) were classified into the MBs group. Bypass surgery in childhood (MBs, 7.8% vs. non-MBs, 35.2%; P < 0.01) and age (MBs, 42.9 ± 1.8 years vs. non-MBs, 34.7 ± 1.4 years; P < 0.01) were statistically significant factors associated with microbleeds, but only bypass surgery in childhood remained statistically significant after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.87; P = 0.03)., Conclusions: This study shows the clinical significance of revascularization surgery in childhood associated with a low incidence of asymptomatic microbleeds in adult patients with moyamoya disease. This finding indicates that a newly established bypass can reduce hemodynamic overstress., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)