• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.293-296
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• 2013

The aneurysm arising from fenestrated proximal anterior cerebral artery (ACA) is considered to be unique. The authors report a case of a 59-year-old woman who presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) secondary to a ruptured aneurysm originating from the fenestrated A1 segment of right ACA. The patient had another unruptured aneurysm which was located at the right middle cerebral artery bifurcation. She was successfully treated with surgical clipping for both aneurysms. From the previously existing literatures, we found 18 more cases (1983-2011) of aneurysms associated with fenestrated A1 segment. All cases represented saccular type of aneurysms, and 79% of the patients had SAH. There were three subtypes of the fenestrated A1 aneurysms depending on the anatomical location, relative to the fenestrated segment. The most common type was the aneurysms located on the proximal end of fenestrated artery (82%). Azygos ACA and hypoplastic A1 were frequently accompanied by the aneurysm (33% and 31%, respectively), and multiple aneurysms were shown in three cases (16%). Considering that fenestrated A1 segment is likely to develop an aneurysm, which has high risk of rupture, early management may benefit patients with aneurysms accompanied by fenestrated proximal ACA.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.208-218
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• 2019

Background: The anatomy of middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms has been noted to be unfavorable for endovascular treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of coiling for MCA aneurysms. Methods: From January 2004 to December 2015, 72 MCA aneurysms (38 unruptured and 34 ruptured) in 67 patients were treated with coils. Treatment-related complications, clinical outcomes, and immediate and follow-up angiographic outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Aneurysms were located at the MCA bifurcation (n=60), 1st segment (M1, n=8), and 2nd segment (M2, n=4). Sixty-nine aneurysms (95.8%) were treated by neck remodeling techniques using multi-catheter (n=44), balloon (n=14), stent (n=8), or combination of these (n=3). Only 3 aneurysms were treated by single-catheter technique. Angiographic results were 66 (91.7%) complete, 5 (6.9%) remnant neck, and 1 (1.4%) incomplete occlusion. Procedural complications included aneurysm rupture (n=1), asymptomatic coil migration to the distal vessel (n=1), and acute thromboembolism (n=10) consisting of 8 asymptomatic and 2 symptomatic events. Treatment-related permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 4.5% and 3.0%, respectively. There was no bleeding on clinical follow-up (mean, 29 months; range, 6-108 months). Follow-up angiographic results (mean, 26 months; range, 6-96 months) in patients included 1 major and 3 minor recanalizations. Conclusion: Coiling of MCA aneurysms could be a technically feasible and clinically effective treatment strategy with acceptable angiographic and clinical outcomes. However, the safety and efficacy of this technique as compared to surgical clipping remains to be ascertained.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2005

Purpose : This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of 3T-TOF MR angiography (3T-TOF MRA) compared with transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) and conventional angiography (CA) in patients with suspected cerebral infarction. Materials and Methods : Fifty four patients with clinical symptoms of cerebral infarction were involved in this study, and had undergone 3T-TOF MRA and TCD, with CA in 11 patients. On the basis of divisions of the carotid artery, four groups were designated: group I, both vertebral arteries and basilar artery; group II, segment between 2 cm below bifurcation of common carotid artery and genu portion of internal carotid artery; group III, segment between petrous portion of internal carotid artery and bifurcation of anterior and middle cerebral artery; group IV, from bifurcation of anterior and middle cerebral artery to thier distal branches. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed the vascular imaging and stenosis in 3T-TOF MRA, TCD, and CA. Results : A total of 432 arteries, 108 in each group, were available. The assessment of vascular imaging quality in 3T-TOF MRA is scored 2.98, 2.96, 2.91, 2.88 in 4 groups, respectively. Agreement among 3T-TOF MR angiography, TCD, and CA was high. Conclusion : 3T-TOF MR angiography may be useful method for the assessment of stenotic lesions of cranial vasculature in patients with cerebral infarction.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.834-840
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• 2020

Objective : Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is an effective surgical procedure for treating symptomatic or asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis. Many neurosurgeons use a shunt to reduce perioperative ischemic complications. However, the use of shunting is still controversial, and the shunt procedure can cause several complications. In our institution, we used two types of modified arteriotomy suture techniques instead of using a shunt. Methods : In technique 1, to prevent ischemic complications, we sutured a third of the arteriotomy site from both ends after removing the plaque. Afterward, the unsutured middle third was isolated from the arterial lumen by placing a curved Satinsky clamp. And then, we opened all the clamped carotid arteries before finishing the suture. In technique 2, we sutured the arteriotomy site at the common carotid artery (CCA). We then placed a curved Satinsky clamp crossing from the sutured site to the carotid bifurcation, isolating the unsutured site at the internal carotid artery (ICA). After placing the Satinsky clamp, the CCA and external carotid artery (ECA) were opened to allow blood flow from CCA to ECA. By opening the ECA, ECA collateral flow via ECA-ICA anastomoses could help to reduce cerebral ischemia. Results : The modified suture methods can reduce the cerebral ischemia directly (technique 1) or via using collaterals (technique 2). The modified arteriotomy suture techniques are simple, safe, and applicable to almost all cases of CEA. Conclusion : Two modified arteriotomy suture techniques could reduce perioperative ischemic complications by reducing the cerebral ischemic time.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2005

Systemic multiple aneurysms are rare, and an association between intracranial and visceral arterial or abdominal aortic aneurysm in the same patient is a very rare occurrence. We report herein three such cases. In one case, aneurysms of the right internal carotid artery(ICA) and the right middle cerebral arterial bifurcation(MCAB) coexisted with the inferior pancreaticoduodenal arterial pseudoaneurysm and two ileal arterial aneurysms. In another case, the patient had the A-com arterial aneurysm and the right renal arterial aneurysm. And in the other patient, he had the right vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm with the abdominal aortic aneurym. Initially, all patients were referred to our hospital with subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH), and thereafter first two patients developed visceral arterial aneurysm rupture in the course of hospital stay and in the last patient, the abdominal aortic aneurysm was detected incidentally during carotid angiogram for Guglielmi detachable coil(GDC) embolization of vertebral dissecting aneurym. After thorough review of our cases together with pertinent literatures, we emphasize the possibility of underlying extracranial aneurysms in ruptured intracranial arterial aneurysm patient and it's uncommon but fatal complication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.564-569
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• 2016

Objective : This study used the intradural procedural time to assess the overall technical difficulty involved in surgically clipping an unruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm via a pterional or superciliary approach. The clinical and radiological variables affecting the intradural procedural time were investigated, and the intradural procedural time compared between a superciliary keyhole approach and a pterional approach. Methods : During a 5.5-year period, patients with a single MCA aneurysm were enrolled in this retrospective study. The selection criteria for a superciliary keyhole approach included : 1) maximum diameter of the unruptured MCA aneurysm <15 mm, 2) neck diameter of the MCA aneurysm <10 mm, and 3) aneurysm location involving the sphenoidal or horizontal segment of MCA (M1) segment and MCA bifurcation, excluding aneurysms distal to the MCA genu. Meanwhile, the control comparison group included patients with the same selection criteria as for a superciliary approach, yet who preferred a pterional approach to avoid a postoperative facial wound or due to preoperative skin trouble in the supraorbital area. To determine the variables affecting the intradural procedural time, a multiple regression analysis was performed using such data as the patient age and gender, maximum aneurysm diameter, aneurysm neck diameter, and length of the pre-aneurysm M1 segment. In addition, the intradural procedural times were compared between the superciliary and pterional patient groups, along with the other variables. Results : A total of 160 patients underwent a superciliary (n=124) or pterional (n=36) approach for an unruptured MCA aneurysm. In the multiple regression analysis, an increase in the diameter of the aneurysm neck (p<0.001) was identified as a statistically significant factor increasing the intradural procedural time. A Pearson correlation analysis also showed a positive correlation (r=0.340) between the neck diameter and the intradural procedural time. When comparing the superciliary and pterional groups, no statistically significant between-group difference was found in terms of the intradural procedural time reflecting the technical difficulty (mean${\pm}$standard deviation : $29.8{\pm}13.0min$ versus $27.7{\pm}9.6min$). Conclusion : A superciliary keyhole approach can be a useful alternative to a pterional approach for an unruptured MCA aneurysm with a maximum diameter <15 mm and neck diameter <10 mm, representing no more of a technical challenge. For both surgical approaches, the technical difficulty increases along with the neck diameter of the MCA aneurysm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.649-660
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• 2019

Objective : To analyze the angiographic features and clinical course, including treatment outcomes and the natural course, of fusiform middle cerebral artery aneurysms (FMCAAs) according to their location, size, and configuration. Methods : We reviewed the literature on adult cases of FMCAAs published from 1980 to 2018; from 25 papers, 112 FMCAA cases, for which the location, size, and configuration could be identified, were included in this study. Additionally, 33 FMCAA cases in our hospital were included, from which 16 were assigned to the observation group. Thus, a total of 145 adult FMCAA cases were included. We classified the FMCAAs according to their location (l-type 1, beginning from prebifurcation; l-type 2, beginning from bifurcation; l-type 3, beginning from postbifurcation), size (small, <10 mm; large, ${\geq}10mm$; giant, ${\geq}25mm$), and configuration (c-type 1, classic dissecting aneurysm; c-type 2, segmental ectasia; c-type 3, dolichoectatic dissecting aneurysm). Results : The c-type 3 was more commonly diagnosed with ischemic symptoms (31.8%) than hemorrhage (13.6%), while 40.9% were found accidentally. In contrast, c-type 2 was more commonly diagnosed with hemorrhagic symptoms (14.9%) than ischemic symptoms (10.6%), and 72.3% were accidentally discovered. According to location, ischemic symptoms and hemorrhage were the most frequent symptoms in l-type 1 (28.6%) and l-type 3 (34.6%), respectively. Most of l-type 2 FMCAAs were found incidentally (68.4%). Based on the size of FMCAAs, only 11.1% of small aneurysms were found to be hemorrhagic, while 18.9% and 26.0% of large and giant aneurysms were hemorrhagic, respectively. Although four aneurysms of the 16 FMCAAs in the observation group increased in size and one aneurysm decreased in size during the observation period, no rupture was seen in any case and there were no significant predictors of aneurysm enlargement. Of 104 FMCAAs treated, 14 cases (13.5%) were aggravated than before surgery and all the aggravated cases were l-type 1. Conclusion : While ischemic symptoms occurred more frequently in l-type 1 and c-type 3, hemorrhagic rather than ischemic symptoms occurred more frequently in l-type 3 and c-type 2. In case of l-type 1 FMCAAs, more caution is required in determining the treatment due to the relatively high complication rate.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.455-462
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• 2014

Objective : To propose a new measure for effective monitoring of intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and to validate the feasibility of this measure for evoked potentials (EP) and single trials with a retrospective data analysis study. Methods : The proposed new measure (hereafter, a slope-measure) was defined as the relative slope of the amplitude and latency at each EP peak compared to the baseline value, which is sensitive to the change in the amplitude and latency simultaneously. We used the slope-measure for EP and single trials and compared the significant change detection time with that of the conventional peak-to-peak method. When applied to single trials, each single trial signal was processed with optimal filters before using the slope-measure. In this retrospective data analysis, 7 patients who underwent cerebral aneurysm clipping surgery for unruptured aneurysm middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation were included. Results : We found that this simple slope-measure has a detection time that is as early or earlier than that of the conventional method; furthermore, using the slope-measure in optimally filtered single trials provides warning signs earlier than that of the conventional method during MCA clipping surgery. Conclusion : Our results have confirmed the feasibility of the slope-measure for intraoperative SEP monitoring. This is a novel study that provides a useful measure for either EP or single trials in intraoperative SEP monitoring.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2018

Carotid angiography covering the aortic arch includes contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEA), which is applied to a large region and usually employs contrast media. However, the use of contrast media can be dangerous in infants, pregnant women, and patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Follow-up patients informed of a lesion may also want to avoid constant exposure to contrast media. We aimed to apply time-of-flight (TOF) angiography to a large region and compare its usefulness with that of CEA. Ten patients (mean age, 58 years; range, 45~75 years) who visited our hospital for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) participated in this study. A 3.0 Tesla Achieva magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (Philips, Netherland) and the SENSE NeuroVascular 16-channel coil were employed for both methods. Both methods were applied simultaneously to the same patient. Three TOF stacks were connected to cover the aortic arch through the circle of Willis, and CEA was applied in the same manner. For the quantitative assessment, the acquired images were used to set the regions of interest (ROIs) in the common carotid artery (CCA) bifurcation, internal carotid artery, external carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and vertebral artery, and to obtain the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for the soft tissues. Three radiologists and one radiological resident performed the qualitative assessment on a 5-point scale - 1 point, "very bad"; 2 points, "bad"; 3 points, "average"; 4 points, "good"; and 5 points, "very good" - with regard to 4 items: (1) sharpness, (2) distortion, (3) vein contamination, and (4) expression of peripheral vessels. For the quantitative assessment, we estimated the mean SNR and CNR in each of the 5 ROIs. In general, the mean SNR was higher in TOF angiography (166.1, 205.2, 154.39, 172.23, and 161.95) than in CEA(92.05, 95.43, 84.76, 73.69, and 88.3). Both methods had a similar mean CNR: 67.62, 106.71, 55.9, 73.74, and 63.46 for TOF angiography, and 67.82, 71.19, 60.52, 49.45, and 64.07 for CEA. In all ROIs, the mean SNR was statistically significant (p<0.05), whereas the mean CNR was insignificant (p>0.05). The mean values of TOF angiography and CEA for each item in the qualitative assessment were 4.2 and 4.28, respectively for item 1; 2.93 and 4.55, respectively, for item 2; 4.6 and 3.13, respectively, for item 3; and 2.88 and 4.65, respectively, for item 4. Therefore, TOF angiography had a higher mean for item 3, and CEA had a higher mean for items 2 and 4; there was no significant difference between the two methods for item 1. The results for item 1 were statistically insignificant (p>0.05), whereas the results for items 2~4 were statistically significant (p<0.05). Both methods have advantages and disadvantages and they complement each other. However, CEA is usually applied to a large region covering the aortic arch. Time-of-flight angiography may be useful for people such as infants, pregnant women, CRF patients, and followup patients for whom the use of contrast media can be dangerous or unnecessary, depending on the circumstance.