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BackgroundFlow diversion is an innovative and increasingly used technique for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. New flow diverters (FDs) are being introduced to improve the safety and efficacy of this treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of the new Pipeline Vantage (PV) FD.MethodsPatients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the PV at 10 international neurovascular centers were retrospectively analyzed. Patient and aneurysm characteristics, procedural parameters, complications, and the grade of occlusion were assessed.Results60 patients with 70 aneurysms (5.0% with acute hemorrhage, 90.0% located in the anterior circulation) were included. 82 PVs were implanted in 61 treatment sessions. The PV could be successfully implanted in all treatments. Additional coiling was performed in 18.6%, and in-stent balloon angioplasty (to enhance the vessel wall apposition) in 24.6%. Periprocedural technical complications occurred in 24.6% of the treatments, were predominantly FD deployment problems, and were all asymptomatic. The overall symptomatic complication rate was 8.2% and the neurological symptomatic complication rate was 3.3%. Only one symptomatic complication was device-related (perforator artery infarctions leading to stroke). After a mean follow-up of 7.1 months, the rate of complete aneurysm occlusion was 77.9%. One patient (1.7%) died due to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage which occurred before treatment, unrelated to the procedure.ConclusionsThe new PV FD is safe and feasible for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The short-term occlusion rates are promising but need further assessment in prospective long-term follow-up studies.

Optimal scoring system for clinical prognostic factors in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently uncertain. We aimed to develop and externally validate an easy to use tool, particularly for this population, and named it the unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma prognostic index (UHPI). We evaluated the data of patients with treatment-naive unresectable HCC who were diagnosed in the training center from 2010 to 2019 (n = 209). A simple prognostic model was developed by assigning points for each covariate in proportion to the beta coefficients in the Cox multivariable model. Predictive performance and distinction ability of the UHPI were further evaluated in an independent European validation cohort (n = 147) and compared with 11 other available models. A simple scoring system was derived, assigning 0.5/1/2 scores for six independent covariates including, the Child-Pugh score, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, maximum tumor size, vascular invasion or extrahepatic metastasis, lymph node involvement, and alpha-fetoprotein. The UHPI score, ranging from 0 to 6, showed superior performance in prognosis prediction and outperformed 11 other staging or prognostic models, giving the highest homogeneity (c-index, 6-month and 1-year area under the receiver operator characteristic curves), lowest Akaike information criterion, and -2 log-likelihood ratio values. The UHPI score allocated well the risk of patients with unresectable HCC for mortality within the first year, using two cut-off values (low-risk, 2). Conclusion: The UHPI score can predict prognosis better than other systems in subjects with unresectable HCC and can be used in clinical practice or trials to estimate the 6-month and 1-year survival probabilities for this group.

Occlusive thrombi in acute ischemic stroke can be in various types which limits the success of the thrombectomy. The NeVaRetrospective review of prospectively collected mechanical thrombectomy database revealed 145 patients who had fullfilled the inclusion criteria. The data collected includes clinical patient characteristics, procedural measures, timestamp at each stage, and patient outcome. IV thrombolytics application, pre and post-intervention imaging findings, device related adverse event and any type of intracranial hemorrhage were recorded.There was female pre-dominance (54.5%). Median presenting national institutes of health stroke scale (NIHSS) was 16 (IQR, 3-32). 88 MCA-m1 (60,6%), 43 ICA-tip (29,6%), 11 MCA-m2 (7,5%), 2 ACA (1,4%) and 1 basilar (0,7%) occlusions were underwent for mechanical thrombectomy. Median procedure time was 25 min (IQR, 7-136). First-pass reperfusion scores were mTICI 0-2a 22.7%, mTICI 2b 23.4%, mTICI 2c 17.9% and mTICI 3 35.9%. Mean number of pass was 1,84 ± 1,14. Final mTICI 2b-3 score was 97.9% and TICI2c-3 score was 87.6%. No device related adverse event occurred. The mean 24-h NIHSS score was 6 (IQR 0-33).In conclusion, the NeVa thrombectomy device offers a high rate of first-pass success along with favorable safety profile. Larger series and multi-center studies are needed for further investigation.

Flow diverter stents are gaining wider use in the treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms; however, there are limited data on occlusion and complication rates of flow diverters in very large and giant aneurysms. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of flow redirection endoluminal device (FRED) and FRED Jr. stents in aneurysms ≥ 20 mm. We retrospectively analyzed all aneurysms ≥ 20 mm treated with FRED/FRED Jr. between January 2010 and June 2020 from three centers. Endpoints for clinical safety were absence of major stroke, aneurysmal rupture, or death and complete or near-complete occlusion for efficacy. A total of 45 patients with very large (28 cases) and giant aneurysms (17 cases) were treated with FRED (41 cases), and FRED Jr. (4 cases) stents. The majority of the aneurysms (40/45, 88.9%) were in the anterior circulation. Adjunctive aneurysm coiling was performed in 21 aneurysms (46.7%). Technical complications were encountered in 4 procedures (8.9%). Ischemic and hemorrhagic complication rates were 6.7% and 8.9%, respectively. There was no case with major stroke. The mortality rate was 8.9%, and all cases were due to hemorrhagic complications from aneurysmal rupture. Median angiographic follow-up was 21.5 months (range 3–60 months). Complete occlusion was achieved in 32 aneurysms (71.1%), and near-complete occlusion in 5 cases (11.1%). The use of FRED/FRED Jr. for the treatment of aneurysms ≥ 20 mm achieved a long-term aneurysm occlusion rate and a safety profile comparable to the large series reported with other flow diverter stents.

Flow diverter stents(FDSs) are recent additions to the endovascular armament for treating ophthalmic segment aneurysms(OSA). In our study we evaluated the long-term effect of FDS placement on multiple Optical Coherence Tomography(OCT) findings, best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) and intra-ocular pressure(IOP).A prospective cohort study was conducted in 35 patients treated with a single FDS placement for OSA, between 2013 and 2018. Spectral-domain OCT was used to measure retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, ganglion cell complex thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT), and other stereometric parameters. Choroidal Vascularity Index(CVI) in a 1.5 mm wide subfoveal choroidal area was calculated. BCVA and IOP were also assessed. These measurements, at final follow up, were compared to the untreated fellow eye to evaluate the long-term effect of FDS placement.This study included 70 eyes from 35 patients (100% female) with a mean age of 54.9 ± 9.8 years and mean follow-up period of 37.3 ± 18.9 months. No ophthalmic artery occlusion was encountered. The mean CVI was significantly higher in the stented side compared to the fellow normal eye (66.90±1.95 vs 65.05±1.93, p=.001) while mean SFCT was significantly reduced (251.23±68.54 vs 288.78±78.95, p=.037). Differences in the remaining studied parameters did not reach statistical significance. The difference in BCVA between stented and fellow normal eyes was also not significant (0.057±0.213 vs 0.060±0.214, p=.977 in logMAR).Treatment with FDSs did not cause permanent visual damage. This study is the first to report a decrease in SFCT with a compensatory increase in CVI following FDS placement for OSA.

Background & Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and other blood cells markers in craniocervical artery dissection patients and the dynamic changes of these biomarkers during the disease course, and effects on prognosis of the patients. Method: Cranial MR imaging, cranial and cervical MR angiography and DSA were examined, and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) was performed to show the acute lesion(s). Results: Forty-six patients with craniocervical artery dissection were included in this study; they had a mean age of 42 years. Almost 60% of the patients (n=27) were admitted during acute state. Almost 2/3 of cases had extracranial dissection (n=31) and nearly 40% of the patients (n=18) had trauma. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was observed to be higher in the acute phase of the disease while the ratio decreased in the chronic phase. Low hemoglobin, high lymphocyte and a high NLR were found to have a negative correlation with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Conclusion: Elevation of neutrophil was higher in acute craniocervical artery dissection as a marker of acute inflammatory response. High NLR, low hemoglobin and high eosinophil levels were associated with worse prognosis and functional outcomes.

Background Mural-type vein of Galen malformations (VoGMs) mostly manifest in later stages of infancy as macrocephaly, hydrocephalus, or failure to thrive unless previously diagnosed and treated. Literature is extremely limited on the success and safety of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in acute obstructive hydrocephalus caused by an untreated VoGM. Thus, we aimed to present a case for demonstrating the possible efficacy and safety of ETV under such conditions. Case Description A 22-month-old boy presenting with acute-onset headache, vomiting, and lethargy was diagnosed with a mural-type VoGM and acute obstructive hydrocephalus. He was treated satisfactorily with ETV and endovascular embolization. We observed a shrinkage in malformation sac diameter of >20 mm in the magnetic resonance imaging angiography at postoperative year 1. The child showed normal motor and mental development at his outpatient clinic visit at postoperative month 15. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature with an untreated VoGM presenting with acute obstructive hydrocephalus who was treated with the combination of ETV and endovascular embolization and had an adequate follow-up period.

INTRODUCTION[|]Spontaneous carotid and vertebral artery dissection involves 1-2% of all ischemic stroke and 10-25% of stroke cases among young adults. The aim of our study was to identify the dissection cases and neurological symptoms and signs, to investigate the etiological risk factors, to reveal the vascular involvement and to evaluate the demographic characteristics and treatment practices particularly in young patients. [¤]METHODS[|]A total of 53 cranio-cervical dissection patients who were hospitalized in our hospital between January 2010 - July 2019 were examined retrospectively. Age, sex, risk factors, and trauma history in the last month, neurological symptoms and signs were noted. Cranial MRI, cranial and cervical MR-anjio, T1-weighed fat sat cervical MRI, DSA were applied for suspected patients. [¤]RESULTS[|]Of the 53 patients with dissection, 23 were female and 30 were male. The mean age for vertebral artery dissection (VAD) was 40,8 and carotis artery dissection (CAD) was 42,2 years. Thirty patients were VAD, 23 patients were CAD. Four patients had bilateral carotid and one patient had bilateral vertebral artery dissection. In the subgroup analysis, 30 patients had extracranial, 23 had intracranial dissection. When risk factors were evaluated, cigarette smoking and hypertension were most common. Major or minor trauma story was observed in 41,5% of patients. Antiaggregant treatment was used in 88,6% of patients. [¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]In the present study, VAD was more common and can be different from the other studies in literature. Extracranial dissections were dominant and nearly 40% of all dissections had a history of minor or major trauma. Smoking and hypertension were the most common risk factors. It needs more patients with multi center study to understand the incidence of craniocervical dissections in Turkish population. Arterial dissection has to be considered in differential diagnosis in young stroke patients. [¤]

Objective: To evaluate the value of coeliac artery (CA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) origin levels as an anatomic marker in the detection of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) and vertebral enumeration. Patients and Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained. Routine lumbar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging that included sagittal cervicothoracic scout images in 972 cases were evaluated retrospectively. Six segments were created in the vertebral column with 7 lines. CA and SMA ostiums were localized in these segments. Results: Coeliac artery and SMA levels were detected more caudally in lumbarized S1 and more cranially in sacralized L5 cases compared to non-LSTV cases. Conclusion: Coeliac artery and SMA origin levels are not confidential in consequence of wide variability.

Background and Purpose: Flow diversion is increasingly used as an endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms. In this retrospective multicenter study, we analyzed the safety and efficacy of the treatment of intracranial, unruptured, or previously treated but recanalized aneurysms using Flow Re-Direction Endoluminal Device (FRED) Jr with emphasis on midterm results.Materials and Methods: Clinical and radiological records of 150 patients harboring 159 aneurysms treated with FRED Jr at six centers between October 2014 and February 2020 were reviewed and consecutively included. Clinical outcome was measured by using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Anatomical results were assessed according to the O'Kelly-Marotta (OKM) scale and the Cekirge-Saatci Classification (CSC) scale.Results: The overall complication rate was 24/159 (16%). Thrombotic-ischemic events occurred in 18/159 treatments (11%). These resulted in long-term neurological sequelae in two patients (1%) with worsening from pre-treatment mRS 0–2 and mRS 4 after treatment. Complete or near-complete occlusion of the treated aneurysm according to the OKM scale was reached in 54% (85/158) at 6-month, in 68% (90/133) at 1-year, and in 83% (77/93) at 2-year follow-up, respectively. The rates of narrowing or occlusion of a vessel branch originating from the treated aneurysm according to the CSC scale were 11% (12/108) at 6-month, 20% (17/87) at 1-year, and 23% (13/57) at 2-year follow-up, respectively, with all cases being asymptomatic.Conclusions: In this retrospective multicenter study, FRED Jr was safe and effective in the midterm occlusion of cerebral aneurysms. Most importantly, it was associated with a high rate of good clinical outcome.

Objective This study aims to compare the efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of two flow diverters, i.e., pipeline embolization device and flow re-direction endoluminal device, in the treatment of distal carotid aneurysms. Methods A total of 138 patients with 175 aneurysms were included from February 2012 to September 2019. Ninety-nine aneurysms were treated with flow re-direction endoluminal device and 76 with pipeline embolization device. Angiographic follow-ups were at the 6th, 12th, 24th, 36th, and 60th months; the O’Kelly-Marotta grading scale was used to assess aneurysms occlusion. Outcomes of two devices were compared; possible associations regarding patient characteristics, aneurysm properties, treatment details, and adverse events were evaluated. Results The mean follow-up period was 33 months, with 10 patients lost to follow-up. Occlusion rates at the 6th and 12th months and during the last follow-up were similar for flow re-direction endoluminal device (81%, 84%, and 90%) and pipeline embolization device (82%, 85%, and 93%). Occlusion rates were also similar after stand-alone use without coiling. There was no significant difference regarding adverse event rates with a 10.9% overall complication rate, 3.6% mortality, and 0.7% permanent morbidity. All the mortality and morbidity were related to hemorrhagic complications. Device deployment failure was observed with five flow re-direction endoluminal devices and two pipeline embolization devices, whereas two severe in-stent stenoses occurred with each device. Conclusions Both flow re-direction endoluminal device and pipeline embolization device are feasible and effective in flow diversion of distal internal carotid artery aneurysms, with similar adverse events rates and aneurysm occlusion success. Aneurysm occlusion rates increase with time, while the presence of an integrated branch significantly decreases treatment success.

Introduction Endovascular treatment is growing in popularity globally as an important treatment option for intracranial aneurysms. Cerebral infection as a complication of endovascular treatment of aneurysms is sufficiently rare that only 6 isolated cerebral abscess cases have been reported thus far. Case Report In this report, we present 2 cerebral abscesses from 3 institutions, which developed after coil embolization of anterior communicating artery and middle cerebral artery aneurysms. Conclusion This report was written to discuss the possible mechanisms underlying cerebral abscess after endovascular treatment of aneurysms and to suggest potential treatment and prevention methods.

Background In the last years, Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT), using biocompatible Yttrium-90 (90Y) labeled microspheres have emerged for the treatment of malignant hepatic tumors. Unfortunately, a significant part of 90Y-labeled microspheres may shunt to the lungs after intraarterial injection. It can be predictable by infusing technetium-99 m-labeled macro-aggregated albumin particles through a catheter placed in the proper hepatic artery depending on the lobe to be treated with performing a quantitative lung scintigraphy. Radiation pneumonitis (RP) can occur 1 to 6 months after the therapy, which is a rare but severe complication of SIRT. Prompt timing of steroid treatment is important due to its high mortality rate. On the other hand, pulmonary diffusion capacity measured by carbon monoxide (DLCO) is an excellent way to measure the diffusing capacity because carbon monoxide is present in minimal amount in venous blood and binds to hemoglobin in the same manner as oxygen. Some authors reported that the most consistent changes after radiation therapy (RT) are recorded with this quantitative reproducible test. The relationship between the proportional reductions in DLCO and the severity of RP developing after this therapy may prove to be clinically significant. Case presentation We herein present a patient who developed RP after SIRT that could be quantified using DLCO. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first who developed unexpected RP after SIRT with significant decrease in DLCO with internal radiation exposure. Conclusions RP is a very rare complication and may lead to a fatal outcome. Decline in DLCO could be a valuable parameter for follow-up and to identify potential candidates for RP and could be also another trigger for administration of steroid therapy with prompt timing in this patient group.

Purposes: To evaluate changes in ocular blood flow and subfoveal choroidal thickness in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis after carotid artery stenting. Methods: We included 15 men (mean age, 63.6 ± 9.1 years) with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis and 18 healthy volunteers (all men; mean age, 63.7 ± 5.3 years). All participants underwent detailed ophthalmologic examinations including choroidal thickness measurement using enhanced depth-imaging optic coherence tomography. The patients also underwent posterior ciliary artery blood flow measurements using color Doppler ultrasonography before and after carotid artery stenting. Results: Patients lacked ocular ischemic symptoms. Their peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities increased to 10.1 ± 13.1 (p=0.005) and 3.9 ± 6.3 (p=0.064) cm/s, respectively, after the procedure. Subfoveal choroidal thicknesses were significantly thinner in patients with carotid artery stenosis than those in the healthy controls (p=0.01). But during the first week post-procedure, the subfoveal choroidal thicknesses increased significantly (p=0.04). The peak systolic velocities of the posterior ciliary arteries increased significantly after carotid artery stenting (p=0.005). We found a significant negative correlation between the mean increase in peak systolic velocity values after treatment and the mean preprocedural subfoveal choroidal thickness in the study group (p=0.025, r=-0.617). Conclusions: In patients with carotid artery stenosis, the subfoveal choroid is thinner than that in healthy controls. The subfoveal choroidal thickness increases after carotid artery stenting. Carotid artery stenting treatment increases the blood flow to the posterior ciliary artery, and the preprocedural subfoveal choroidal thickness may be a good predictor of the postprocedural peak systolic velocity of the posterior ciliary artery.

© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.Purpose: Our aim was to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of the Flow Re-Direction Endoluminal Device (FRED) in this multicenter study with prospective design. Materials-method: This study included 136 consecutive patients with 155 aneurysms treated between March 2013 and June 2016 in 10 centers. Twenty-two (16.2%) patients presented with rupture of the index aneurysm. Large/giant aneurysms comprised 1/3 of the cohort. Adjuvant coil use during the treatment was 15.5%. The effectiveness measure in the study was the percentage of aneurysms with stable occlusion at follow-up. Results: Vascular imaging follow-up was performed at least once in 131/136 (96.3%) patients with 148/155 (95.5%) aneurysms up to 75 months (mean: 37.3 months; median: 36 months according to latest follow-up), and 102/155(65.8%) aneurysms in 90/136 (66.2%) patients had ≥ 24-month control. According to the latest controls, the overall stable occlusion rate was 91.9% (95% CI, 87.5 to 96.3%). Three out of 148 aneurysms with follow-up were retreated (2%, 95% CI 0.0 to 4.3%). Adverse events were noted in 19/136 (14%, 95% CI, 9 to 21%) patients with a morbidity of 1.5% (95% CI, 0.0 to 3.5%). Mortality was 1/136 (0.7%, 95% CI, 0.02 to 2.2%) and was unrelated to aneurysm treatment. In-stent stenosis (ISS) was detected in 10/131 of the patients with follow-up (7.6%, 95% CI; 3.1 to 12.2%), only one being symptomatic. No adverse events have occurred in any of the patients with follow-up after 24 months, except the one resulting from ISS. Conclusion: In the treatment of cerebral aneurysms which were candidates for flow diversion technique, this study showed long-term efficacy of FRED with good safety and occlusion rates.

We aimed to present five patients presenting with hypertension and diagnosed as renal artery stenosis. Five patients with renal artery stenosis were studied retrospectively. Two of our cases were diagnosed as fibromuscular dysplasia, other cases were diagnosed as Takayasu arteritis and Moyamoya disease, and one of them had congenital vascular abnormality. Renovascular hypertension is one of the most important causes of secondary hypertension in children, and renal artery stenosis constitutes a significant proportion of renovascular disease. We must consider renal artery stenosis in children presenting with resistant hypertension.

Papillary carcinoma of thyroid (PTC) is the most common neoplasm of the thyroid gland that usually invades lymphatics rather than blood vessels. Hematogenous metastasis of PTC is rare, and distant metastasis to the liver is even rarer. Selective internal radiation therapy with Y microspheres is a well-recognized technique in the treatment of liver metastases. Herein, we present a case of PTC with radioactive iodine-negative hepatic metastasis detected by F-FDG PET/CT and treated with selective internal radiation therapy.

Objectives Biannual ultrasonography, a globally accepted surveillance method, has low sensitivity in detecting early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a surveillance strategy using annual contrast-enhanced MRI to detect HCCs at early-stage. Materials and methods We reviewed the data of 294 patients with consistent annual contrast-enhanced MRI and biannual alpha fetoprotein (AFP) surveillance between 2008 and 2017. Patients were stratified for HCC risk as low-intermediate-high risk group using Toronto risk score. HCCs were classified according to Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system. Results Thirty-five (11.9%) HCCs were detected with annual surveillance MRI. Of those, 30 (85.8%) were early-stage and 15 (42.9%) were very early-stage. The majority of patients (82.9%) with surveillance detected HCC were high risk at the entry. MRI had sensitivity of 83.3 and 80% with a specificity of 95.4 and 91.4%, for detecting early and very early-stage HCC, respectively. Addition of AFP to MRI displayed similar sensitivity and specificity rates to detect early and very early HCCs. The area under the curve of MRI alone and combination with AFP was not statistically different (Any-HCC: 0.905 vs. 0.924; Early-HCC: 0.853 vs. 0.885; Very early-HCC: 0.838 vs. 0.885, respectively, all P values >0.2). Conclusion Annual MRI strategy demonstrated a satisfactory performance in the surveillance of HCC, in terms of detecting most of the lesions in earlier curable stages and indicating high sensitivity with no additional benefit of biannual AFP. New risk stratified screening algorithms may further increase the yield of HCC surveillance among cirrhotic patients.

IntroductionThe Woven EndoBridge Intrasaccular Therapy (WEB-IT) Study is a pivotal, prospective, single-arm, investigational device exemption study designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the WEB device for the treatment of wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms.MethodsOne-hundred and fifty patients with wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms were enrolled at 21 US and six international centers. Angiograms from the index procedure, and 6-month and 1-year follow-up visits were all reviewed by a core laboratory. All adverse events were reviewed and adjudicated by a clinical events adjudicator. A data monitoring committee provided oversight during the trial to ensure subject safety.ResultsOne-hundred and forty-eight patients received the WEB implant. One (0.7%) primary safety event occurred during the study—a delayed ipsilateral parenchymal hemorrhage—on postoperative day 22. No primary safety events occurred after 30 days through 1 year. At the 12-month angiographic follow-up, 77/143 patients (53.8%) had complete aneurysm occlusion. Adequate occlusion was achieved in 121/143 (84.6%) subjects.ConclusionsThe prespecified safety and effectiveness endpoints for the aneurysms studied in the WEB-IT trial were met. The results of this trial suggest that the WEB device provides an option for patients with wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms that is as effective as currently available therapies and markedly safer.Trial registration numberNCT02191618

Stent-assisted coiling using low-profile, self-expandable and retrievable stents is a valid option in endovascular treatment of challenging intracranial aneurysms. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ACCLINO 1.9 F and ACCLINO Flex stent systems, designed for use as adjunctive products in coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms. Case files of 47 patients, and 52 aneurysms in total, treated with at least one ACCLINO 1.9 F or ACCLINO Flex stent were retrospectively evaluated. Technical success, complications, and angiographic outcomes were assessed based on immediate post-procedural controls along with 6th and 12th month angiograms. Mechanical untoward event rate, including asymptomatic complications, is 9.6 % (five out of 52 aneurysms). Failed dual-stenting attempt rate is 15.4 % (two out of 13). Overall procedure-related morbidity is 4.2 % with no neurologic sequelae. Initial occlusion rate is 90.4 % (47 aneurysms). One patient had residual filling in the aneurysm neck, which was stable throughout follow-up. The remaining four cases had spontaneous follow-up occlusion. Recanalization rate at 6th month is 2.1 % with one aneurysm requiring retreatment. One patient was lost to follow-up. There is no mortality associated with treatment. Stent–assisted coil embolization with ACCLINO stents in single or dual configurations is a feasible treatment option for challenging intracranial aneurysms. Follow-up results are encouraging; techniques were effective in complex cases and there were no clinically significant adverse outcomes.

IntroductionThe Woven EndoBridge (WEB) represents a novel intrasaccular therapeutic option for the treatment of intracranial wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs). The WEB-IT Study is a pivotal Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study to determine the safety and effectiveness of the WEB device for the treatment of WNBAs located in the anterior and posterior intracranial circulations. We present the patient demographics, procedural characteristics, and 30-day adverse event data for the US WEB-IT study.MethodsWEB-IT is a prospective multicenter single-arm interventional study conducted at 25 US and 6 international centers. The study enrolled 150 adults with WNBAs of the anterior and posterior intracranial circulations. All patients were intended to receive a WEB device delivered via standard endovascular neurosurgical embolization techniques. The study was conducted under Good Clinical Practices and included independent adjudication effectiveness outcomes and all adverse events.ResultsOne hundred and fifty patients enrolled at 27 investigational sites underwent attempted treatment with the WEB. Mean age was 59 years (range 29–79) and 110 (73.3%) of the patients were female. Treated aneurysms were located at the basilar apex (n=59, 39.3%), middle cerebral artery bifurcation (n=45, 30%), anterior communicating artery (n=40, 26.7%), and internal carotid artery terminus (n=6, 4%). Average aneurysm size was 6.4 mm (range 3.6–11.4) with a mean neck size of 4.8 mm (range 2.0–8.2, mean dome to neck ratio 1.34). Nine patients presented with ruptured aneurysms. Of the enrolled patients, 98.7% were treated successfully with WEB devices. Mean±SD fluoroscopy time was 30.2±15.7 min. One primary safety event (PSE) (0.7%)—a delayed parenchymal hemorrhage 22 days after treatment—occurred between the index procedure and 30-day follow-up. In addition to the single PSE, there were seven (4.7%) minor ischemic strokes (5 resolved without sequelae and 2 had a modified Rankin Scale score of 1 at 30 days), five (2.7%) transient ischemic attacks, and two (1.3%) minor subarachnoid hemorrhages, which did not meet the prospectively established criteria for PSEs.ConclusionsThe WEB device can be used to treat WNBAs with a high level of procedural safety and a high degree of technical success.Trial registration numberNCT02191618; Pre-results.

Background: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with embolization of branches of the hepatic artery is a valuable therapeutic tool for patients with hepatic malignancies; however, it is also associated with lung injury risk due to shunting. Diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is a clinically significant lung function test, and worsening in DLCO is suggested to reflect a limited gas exchange reserve caused by the potential toxicity of chemoradiotherapy or it may be a marker of related lung injury. This study aimed to examine the changes in DLCO during SIRT with resin microspheres in newly treated and retreated patients. Forty consecutive patients who received SIRT for a variety of malignant conditions were included. All subjects were treated with Yttrium-90 labelled resin microspheres. DLCO tests were performed after the procedures. In addition, patients were specifically followed for radiation pneumonitis. Results: The mean DLCO did not significantly change after the first (82.8 +/- 19.4 vs. 83.1 +/- 20.9, p = 0.921) and the second treatments (87.4 +/- 19.7 vs. 88.6 +/- 23.2, p = 0.256). Proportion of patients with impaired DLCO at baseline was not altered significantly after the first (37.5 vs. 45.0%, p = 0.581) and the second treatments (27.3 vs. 27.3%, p = 1.000). Also, percent change in DLCO values did not correlate with radiation dose, lung shunt fraction, or lung exposure dose (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). None of the patients developed radiation pneumonitis. Conclusions: Our results suggest that no significant change in DLCO in association with SIRT occurs, both after the first or the second treatment sessions. Further larger studies possibly with different protocols are warranted to better delineate DLCO changes after SIRT in a larger spectrum of patients.

Purpose This study aimed to determine the reliability of the iliolumbar ligament (ILL), 12th costa, aortic bifurcation (AB), right renal artery (RRA), and conus medullaris (CM) for numbering of vertebral segments. Subjects and methods Five hundred five patients underwent routine lumbar MRI examinations including a cervicothoracic sagittal scout and T1 and T2-weighted sagittal and axial turbo spin echo images. Images were evaluated by two radiologists separately. Results The identifiability of ILL and 12th costa were 85.7% and 48.1%. AB, RRA, and CM were located more caudally in lumbarized S1 and more cranially in sacralized L5 cases. Conclusion Landmarks suggested by previous studies are not reliable alternatives to cervicothoracic scout images due to wide ranges of distribution and inconsistencies in identification.

Objective: We aimed to share our experience about the super-selective embolization of the vesical artery performed with micro-catheter technique which was used as a palliative approach to control intractable hematuria in patients with bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Super-selective embolization of the vesical artery with micro-catheter technique was performed in 12 bladder cancer patients whose hematuria could not be controlled with other palliative methods in our clinic. Hemoglobin levels, blood transfusion amounts, complications and urethral catheter removal duration before and after embolization were evaluated. Results: The average age of the patients was 73.3 (65-85, range) years. For the embolization process, n-butyl-2cyaboacrylate (glue) was used as the primary method in 3 patients and polyvinylalcohol (PVA) particle was used in the remaining 9 patients. In two of the patients whose hematuria could not be controlled after PVA embolization glue embolization was performed as the secondary procedure within one week. Super-selective embolization of the vesical artery with micro-catheter technique was performed in all of our cases. In 4 cases, embolization of the vesical artery was performed only to the side of the tumor, which was determined with cystoscopy. Bilateral embolization was performed to the remaining 8 cases. The average hemoglobin value before and after the embolization procedure was 7.9 g/dL and 9.2 g/dL, respectively. The average blood transfusion amounts before and after the procedure were 4 (2-15) and 2.3 (1-4) units erythrocyte/whole blood, respectively. The average urethral catheter duration after the procedure was 7 (2-16) days in 10 patients, who were treated one single embolization session. Urethral catheters were removed once the hematuria dissolved completely. There were no major complications or mortality related to the treatment after the embolization procedure. Conclusion: Super-selective embolization of the vesical artery performed with micro-catheter technique is a safe and effective alternative in patients with intractable hematuria due to bladder cancer whose hematuria could not be controlled with other palliative methods.

Background: Transient splenial lesions of the corpus callosum are rare radiological findings first described in association with epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs and viral encephalitis. However, subsequently more cases were described associated with diverse clinical conditions. Case report: We describe a 13-year-old girl suffering from migraine with aura presenting with headache, right-sided hemiparesis and encephalopathy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an ovoid lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum. The patient’s neurological symptoms resolved within 3 days without therapy and the lesion disappeared in follow up magnetic resonance images obtained 3 weeks after the onset of the symptoms. Results: Migraine with aura was considered to be the cause of the lesion. To our knowledge the present case is the first report of a pediatric patient with a diagnosis of migraine with aura presenting with hemiparesis and encephalopathy. Conclusions: A diagnosis of transient lesion of the corpus callosum should be suspected in patients with migraine with aura presenting with hemiparesis and encephalopathy. A mild course and a good prognosis might be expected in the presence of a splenial lesion of the corpus callosum.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Flow diverters are emerging as an endovascular treatment alternative for proximally located intracranial aneurysms. However, treatment of aneurysms at and beyond the circle of Willis is not well-established. We assessed the clinical safety and efficacy of the Flow Re-Direction Endoluminal Device Jr (FRED Jr) dedicated to small-vessel diameters between 2.0 and 3.0 mm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter observational clinical study of 42 patients with 47 aneurysms treated by a flow-direction technique with the FRED Jr. The primary end point for clinical safety was the absence of death, major or minor stroke, and TIA. The primary end point for treatment efficacy was complete and near-complete occlusion according to the O9Kelly-Marotta grading scale at follow-up after 1, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: The FRED Jr deployment was technically successful in all cases. In 39/42 (93%) patients, the primary safety end point was reached; in the 3 remaining patients, 1 disabling ischemic stroke, 1 minor stroke with complete recovery at discharge, and 1 TIA were observed. Two asymptomatic, completely reversible side-branch occlusions occurred. Angiographic (DSA or flat panel CT) and clinical follow-up were available after 1 month in 41/47 (87%), 6 months in 27/47 (57%), and 12 months in 11/47 (23%) aneurysms. The primary efficacy end point was reached at 1 month in 27/41 (66%), at 6 months in 21/27 (78%), and at 12 months in 11/11 (100%) aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: Deployment of the FRED Jr is safe and effective in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms located in small vessels.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) changes in patients with carotid artery stenosis (CAS) after carotid artery stenting. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional, non-randomised clinical case series. Fifteen male patients (mean age: 63.6ae9.1) with CAS and more than 70% carotid artery narrowing were included. All of the patients were followed in the department of neurology and were operated in the interventional radiology division. Eighteen healthy male subjects (mean age: 63.7ae5.3) were included in the control group. All of the healthy subjects had a detailed ophthalmological examination and subjects with any chronic eye disease were excluded from the study. All of the participants had a detailed ophthalmological examination including tonometry using Goldmann applanation tonometry and RNFL analysis using optical coherence tomography (RTVue-100 5.1). Results: There were no ocular ischemic symptoms in any of the participants. The mean IOP value was 15.1ae2.1 mmHg in the control group and 16.6ae2.4 mmHg before stent implantation, 16.4ae2.2 mmHg at 1 week after implantation, 16.6ae2.5 mmHg at 1 month after implantation, and 16.7ae2.9 mmHg at 3 months after implantation in the CAS group. Mean RNFL thickness was 105ae6 mu m in the control group; in the CAS group, mean RNFL thickness values were 98ae27 mu m before stent implantation and 103ae11 mu m, 101ae10 mu m, and 101ae11 mu m at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after stenting. There were no significant differences between the CAS group and control group regarding IOP and RNFL thickness values (p> 0.05). IOP and RNFL thickness also did not show any statistically significant changes from preoperative measurements in 3 months postoperative follow-up in the CAS group (p> 0.05). Conclusion: IOP and RNFL thickness remained unchanged after carotid stent implantation in carotid artery stenosis patients with no signs of ocular ischemic syndrome.

Introduction: Intracranial aneurysms are very rare in children. Although subarachnoidal hemorrhage (SAH) is by far the most common presentation of aneurysms in the majority of the pediatric case series, it is not rare for an unruptured aneurysm to present with a mass effect. Acute hydrocephalus is a common finding following aneurysmal SAH. However, this malady may develop even in the absence of SAH but secondary to direct obstruction by a giant aneurysm. This situation is extremely rare in children, with only a few known case reports in the literature. Case Report: We report the case of a 10-year-old girl who presented with signs and symptoms of acute hydrocephalus; further radiological evaluation revealed obstructive hydrocephalus and a giant posterior cerebral artery aneurysm. Following endovascular treatment of the aneurysm, hydrocephalus was completely resolved, and the patient was symptom free. Conclusion: Although they are very rare, giant intracranial aneurysms must be kept in mind during the differential diagnosis of pediatric acute hydrocephalus cases. Hydrocephalus may resolve spontaneously after the successful treatment of these aneurysms.

Objectives To report our experience with transarterial glue embolization of the bronchial artery for life-threatening hemoptysis. Materials and methods Twenty-five patients underwent bronchial artery embolization, using coaxial microcatheter technique, with a liquid agent, n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA), named glue, for life-threatening hemoptysis. The technical and clinical outcomes were followed in terms of immediate control of bleeding, recurrence of hemoptysis and complications of the procedure. Results Four patients had acute hemoptysis when they were evaluated. The average number of arteries embolized per patient was 2.9. BAEs were successful in controlling hemoptysis immediately in all 25 patients (100%) and in 24 patients (96%) at 1 month follow-ups. One patient had recurrent hemoptysis on the tenth day after embolization. The follow-up time ranged from 2 to 63 months (mean 14 months). Six patients (25%) died all as a result of their disease process. Bleeding recurred in 3 patients after 30 days (7th, 11th, 12th months). One patient had vomitting attacks with dysphagia after the procedure that lasted 24 h. Three patients had transient thoracic pain lasting 3–5 days. There were no procedure related spinal or vascular complications. Conclusions Glue embolization with microcatheter technique is a safe and effective treatment in cases of life-threatening hemoptysis with a very high rate of success and low rate of complications.

Iatrogenic injuries of the intrarenal arterial system include pseudoaneurysms and fistulas. They can cause hematuria and life-threatening hemodynamic instability, and therefore should be treated promptly. Endovascular treatment is recommended for these cases due to its effectiveness. Among the different agents used for embolization, n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (glue) has rarely been used. We present 15 patients with pseudoaneurysms and/or arteriovenous or caliceal fistulas who were treated by glue embolization. In our patient group, five had a history of percutaneous nephrolithotomy, six had renal biopsies, three had nephron-sparing surgery, and one had percutaneous nephrostomy. Glue embolizations were performed with the microcatheter technique. All patients were successfully treated, and all but one had excellent follow-ups. One patient suffered from disseminated intravascular coagulation secondary to transfusion and died after the procedure. We think glue embolization is a safe and effective treatment for this group of patients and present our experience along with the technical approach.

We present a case of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) having two risk factors, Behcet's disease (BD) and oral contraceptive (OC) usage. A 33-year-old woman with BD was admitted to the Emergency Unit with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, and confusion started 12 days ago before admission. Since the patient was in a shock state, she was taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with the suspicion of abdomen-originated sepsis. Abdominal ultrasound showed massive hepatosplenomegaly and moderate ascites. Abdominal MRI revealed an inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction starting above the renal veins and diffuse thrombosis of the right and medial hepatic veins. An extensive thrombosis of the IVC and the hepatic veins (BCS) which led to shock was diagnosed. In addition to BD, the unnotified OC usage for a year by the patient without her doctor's knowledge was recognized as possible precipitating factor of BCS. Pulse methylprenisolone was started for three consecutive days to treat active BD-induced vasculitis. IVC digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed occlusion of the IVC below the hepatic veins with extensive collateral circulation originating at the occlusion level suggesting that obliteration had a subacute or chronic course. Since intralesional thrombolytic therapy failed, the patient was transferred to a liver transplantation center. While waiting for an appropriate donor, the patient died due to hepatic failure. Since BCS is mortal and deemed multi-factorial, every patient with a thrombotic risk factor such as BD should be questioned for other possible causes of thrombosis.

The aim of the study was to ascertain the learning curves for the radiology residents when first introduced to an anatomic structure in magnetic resonance images (MRI) to which they have not been previously exposed to.The iliolumbar ligament is a good marker for testing learning curves of radiology residents because the ligament is not part of a routine lumbar MRI reporting and has high variability in detection. Four radiologists, three residents without previous training and one mentor, studied standard axial T1- and T2-weighted images of routine lumbar MRI examinations. Radiologists had to define iliolumbar ligament while blinded to each other's findings. Interobserver agreement analyses, namely Cohen and Fleiss κ statistics, were performed for groups of 20 cases to evaluate the self-learning curve of radiology residents.Mean κ values of resident-mentor pairs were 0.431, 0.608, 0.604, 0.826, and 0.963 in the analysis of successive groups (P .001). The results indicate that the concordance between the experienced and inexperienced radiologists started as weak (κ0.5) and gradually became very acceptable (κ0.8). Therefore, a junior radiology resident can obtain enough experience in identifying a rather ambiguous anatomic structure in routine MRI after a brief instruction of a few minutes by a mentor and studying approximately 80 cases by oneself.Implementing this methodology will help radiology educators obtain more concrete ideas on the optimal time and effort required for supported self-directed visual learning processes in resident education.

To investigate factors effecting the safety and recanalization efficacy of local intraarterial (IA) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) delivery in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Eleven patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke were treated. The neurological status of the patients were graded with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). All patients underwent a computed tomography (CT) examination at admission. In addition four patients had diffusion-weighted and one patient had a perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) examinations. Patients were treated within six hours from stroke onset. Immediate, six hours, and 24 hours follow-up CT examinations were performed in order to evaluate the haemorrhagic complications and the extent of the ischemic area. The Rankin Scale (RS) was used as an outcome measure. Two of the 11 patients had carotid “T” occlusion (CTO), nine had middle cerebral artery (MCA) main trunk occlusion. Four patients had symptomatic haemorrhage with a large haematoma rupturing into the ventricles and subarachnoid space. Of these, three patients died within 24 hours. The remaining seven patients had asymptomatic haematomas that were smaller compared to symptomatic ones, and showed regression in size and density on follow-up CTs. At third month five patients had a good outcome and three patients had a poor outcome. In acute ischemic stroke, local IA thrombolysis is a feasible treatment when you select the right patient. Haemorrhage rate does not seem to exceed that occuring in the natural history of the disease and in other treatment modalities.

Objective: This study investigated the value of early-postoperative magnetic resonance (EPMR) imaging in the detection of residual glial tumor and investigated the role of EPMR for the prediction of tumor regrowth and recurrence. Methods and materials: We retrospectively analyzed pre- and post-operative magnetic resonance imaging results from 50 adult patients who underwent surgical treatment for supratentorial glial tumor. There were glioblastoma multiforme in 25 patients, astrocytoma (grades II and III) in 11 patients, oligodendroglioma (grades II and III) in 9 patients, and oligoastrocytoma (grades II and III) in 5 patients. EPMR imaging was performed within 24 h after surgery. EPMR findings were compared with the neurosurgeon's intraoperative estimation of gross tumor removal. Patterns of contrast enhancement at the resection site, in residual and developing tumor tissue and blood at the resection site were evaluated on EPMR and in follow-up studies. ‘Residual tumor’ was defined as contrast enhancing mass at the operative site on EPMR. ‘Regrowth’ was defined as contrast enhancing mass detected on follow-up in the same location as the primary tumor. ‘Recurrence’ was defined as appearance of a mass lesion in the brain parenchyma distant from the resection bed during follow-up. Results: Nineteen patients showed no evidence of residual tumor, regrowth, or recurrence on EPMR or any of the later follow-up radiological examinations. EPMR identified 20 cases of residual tumor. Follow-up showed tumor regrowth in 10 patients, and tumor recurrence in 1 case. EPMR showed contrast enhancement of the resection bed in 45 of the 50 patients. Four of the 20 residual tumors showed a thick linear enhancement pattern, and the other 16 cases exhibited thick linear-nodular enhancement. No thin linear enhancement was observed in the residual tumor group. Nine of the 10-regrowth tumors showed a thick linear-nodular enhancement pattern, and one exhibited thin linear enhancement in EPMR. For predicting regrowth tumor EPMR sensitivity was 91%, specificity was 100%, positive predictive value 1; negative predictive value was 0.9375. Conclusion: EPMR, depending on the surgical site enhancement pattern, is a valuable means of demonstrating residual tumors, and can be used to predict possible regrowth after surgery.

Intracranial aneurysms of the distal intracranial arteries are uncommon lesions which are difficult to treat with surgical techniques. Distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms constitute approximately 5% of all MCA aneurysms. We report the results of our coil embolization for the treatment of distal MCA aneurysms. Eleven patients (four men and seven women, average age 37 years) with distally located MCA aneurysms were treated. Four of the aneurysms were fusiform in shape and the remainder were saccular. Seven of the aneurysms were in the dominant hemisphere. Four of the seven patients who had saccular aneurysms were treated with selective aneurysm embolization. The remaining seven patients were treated with aneurysmal sac and parent artery coiling. All patients had good retrograde flow into the peripheral branches of the occluded artery. All the procedures were completed successfully without any additional neurological deficits. Coil embolization is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of distal MCA aneurysms. If the parent artery cannot be preserved, pial collaterals can supply adequate blood to prevent neurological deficits.

Low-grade adenocarcinoma of endolymphatic sac origin is a rare tumor of the temporal bone. There are some difficulties in its differential diagnosis from other vascular and non-vascular tumors of the temporal bone. However its radiological differentiation from other tumors of the temporal bone is important for surgical planning. We present a report on two endolymphatic sac tumors with some specific radiological findings which can support a correct diagnosis.