• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제63권1호
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• pp.4-13
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• 2020

For surgical minimalism to reduce iatrogenic traumatization, a supraorbital keyhole approach has already been successfully applied to treat many unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms. However, using this minimal approach also raises several technical concerns due to the small cranial opening and cosmetic impact of a facial incision. Yet, such technical limitations can be overcome by using favorable surgical indications, slender surgical instruments, and optimized surgical techniques, while excellent cosmetic outcomes can be achieved using a short skin incision located <1 cm from the supraorbital margin, reconstruction of any bone defects around the bone flap, and meticulous wound closure. Thus, given such reassuring surgical results, in terms of the clipping status, neurological effects, and cosmetic outcomes, any concerns can be transitioned into confidence.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제61권4호
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• pp.450-457
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• 2018

Objective : Very large (20-25 mm) and giant (${\geq}25mm$) intracranial aneurysms have an extremely poor natural course, and treatment of these aneurysms remains a challenge for endovascular and surgical strategies. This study was undertaken to describe our experiences of endosaccular treatment of very large and giant intracranial aneurysms with parent artery preservation. Methods : From January 2005 to October 2016, twenty-four very large or giant aneurysms in 24 patients were treated by endosaccular coil embolization with parent artery preservation. Nine (37.5%) aneurysms were ruptured and 15 were unruptured, and of these 15, 11 were symptomatic cases and 4 were incidentally discovered. The cohort comprised 17 women and 7 men of mean age 58.5 years (range, 26-82). Mean aneurysm size was 26.0 mm (range, 20-39) and 13 of the 24 aneurysms were giant. Results : Immediate angiographic results were complete occlusion in nine (37.5%) cases, remnant neck in six (25.0%), and remnant sac in nine (37.5%). Overall procedural related morbidity and mortality rates were 12.5% and 4.2%, respectively. Angiographic follow-up was available in 16 patients (66.7%). Mean and median follow-up periods were 27.2 (range, 2-77) and 10.5 months, respectively. In 12 cases (12/16, 75%) stable occlusion was achieved, four cases (4/16, 25%) had recanalized, and two of these were retreated with additional coiling. At clinical follow-up of the nine ruptured cases, three patients (33.3%) achieved a good clinical outcome (Glasgow outcome scale [GOS] score of 4 or 5), two (22.2%) a poor outcome (GOS score of 2 or 3), and four patients (44.4%) expired (GOS 1). On the other hand, of the 15 unruptured cases, 13 patients (86.7%) achieved a good clinical outcome (GOS 4 or 5), one patient a poor outcome (GOS score of 2 or 3), and one patient expired (GOS 1). Conclusion : The present study shows endosaccular treatment of very large or giant intracranial aneurysms with parent artery preservation is both feasible and effective with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.269-275
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• 2016

Objective : Although middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms are less amenable to coil embolization, an increasing number of studies support favorable endovascular treatment for them. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of two different treatments (surgery versus coiling) and evaluate the benefits of surgical clipping for MCA aneurysms. Methods : Here we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 178 ruptured and unruptured MCA aneurysms treated in patients between September 2008 and April 2012. Parameters assessing treatment outcomes include degree of aneurysm occlusion, presence of regrowth, clinical status, and complications. Results : Among 178 MCA aneurysms, 153 were treated surgically. After a mean follow-up of 12 months, the surgery group showed a clinically significant complete occlusion rate (98%) compared with the coiling group (56%) (p<0.001). Follow-up radiologic evaluation showed a higher regrowth rate (four of 16 cases) in the coiling group than in the surgery group (one of 49 cases) (p=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in favorable clinical outcome rate between the two groups. The procedure-related permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 2% (three of 153 cases) in the surgery group and 0% (0 of 25 cases) in the coiling group. Conclusion : Compared to endovascular treatment, surgical neck clipping for both ruptured and unruptured MCA aneurysms results in a significantly higher complete obliteration rate and less regrowth. Therefore, even in this endovascular era, we still recommend surgical clipping as the primary treatment option for MCA aneurysms rather than coil embolization.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제63권1호
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• pp.56-68
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• 2020

Objective : To analyze the incidence and treatment trends of hemorrhagic stroke (HS), according to HS subtypes, using nationwide data in Korea from January 2008 to December 2016. Methods : We used data from the national health-claim database provided by the National Health Insurance Service for 2008-2016 using the International Classification of Diseases. The crude incidence and age-standardized incidence of each disease associated with HS, which included intracranial aneurysm (IA), hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and arteriovenous malformation (AVM), were calculated and additional analysis was conducted according to age and sex. Changes in trends in treatment methods and number of treatments were analyzed for each cerebrovascular disease using the Korean Classification of Diseases procedure codes. Results : In 2016, the total number of newly diagnosed adult patients with HS was 24169, showing a decrease by 7.0% since 2008; the age-standardized incidence of HS was 46.2 per 100000 person-years. The age-standardized incidence of unruptured IA (UIA) in adults was 71.4 per 100000 person-years-increased by 2.6-fold since 2008-while that of ruptured IA (RIA) was 12.6 per 100000 person-years, which had decreased at a rate of 20.3% since 2008. The number of coil embolization (CE) for UIA increased by 3.4-fold over 9 years and exceeded that of clipping since 2008. With respect to RIA, CE increased by 2.0-fold over 9 years and exceeded that of clipping from 2014. As for spontaneous ICH in adults, the age-standardized incidence was 31.3 per 100000 person-years in 2016-decreased by 34.7% since 2008-and 14.6% of patients diagnosed with ICH were treated in 2016, which was not significantly different from the proportion of patients treated since 2008. The age-standardized incidence of unruptured AVM (UAVM) was 2.0 per 100000 person-year in 2016, while that of ruptured AVM (RAVM) was 2.4 per 100000 person-years in 2016, showing a decreasing rate of 17.2% from 2008. The total number of treated patients with AVM declined since 2014. Conclusion : In Korea, age-related cerebral vascular diseases, such as RIA, ICH, and RAVM, demonstrated a declining trend in age-standardized incidence; meanwhile, UIA and UAVM demonstrated an increased trend in both crude incidence and age-standardized incidence for 9 years. The increase in the elderly population, management of hypertension, and development of diagnostic and endovascular techniques appear to have influenced this trend.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권8호
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• pp.828-834
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of outpatient day-care management of unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA), and to present the risks associated with different management strategies by comparing the outcomes and adverse events between outpatient day-care management and management with longer admission periods. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study used prospectively registered data and was approved by a local institutional review board. We enrolled 956 UIAs from 811 consecutive patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 57 ± 10.7 years; male:female = 247:564) from 2017 to 2020. We compared the outcomes after embolization among the different admission-length groups (1, 2, and ≥ 3 days). The outcomes included pre- and post-modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and rates of adverse events, cure, recurrence, and reprocedure. Events were defined as any cerebrovascular problems, including minor and major stroke, death, or hemorrhage. Results: The mean admission period was 2 days, and 175 patients (191 aneurysms), 551 patients (664 aneurysms), and 85 patients (101 aneurysms) were discharged on the day of the procedure, day 2, and day 3 or later, respectively. During the mean 17-month follow-up period (range 6-53 months; 2757 patient years), no change in post-mRS was observed compared to pre-mRS in 99.6% of patients. Cure was achieved in 95.6% patients; minimal recurrence that did not require re-procedure occurred in 3.5% patients, and re-procedure was required in 2.3% (22 of 956) patients due to progressive enlargement of the recurrent sac during follow up (mean 17 months, range, 6-53 months). There were eight adverse events (0.8%), including five cerebrovascular (two major stroke, two minor strokes and one transient ischemic stroke), and three non-cerebrovascular events. Statistical comparison between groups with different admission lengths (1, 2, and ≥ 3 days) revealed no difference in the outcomes. Conclusion: This study revealed no difference in outcomes and adverse events according to the admission period, and suggested that UIA could be managed by outpatient day-care embolization.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.131-134
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• 2008

Objective: The surgical approach for anterior choroidal artery (AChA) aneurysm is typically similar to those used for other supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) lesions. However, the surgical clipping of this aneurysm is complicated and as a result. can result in postoperative ischemic complications. The purpose of this study was to clarify the risk of clip-induced ischemic complication in AChA aneurysm and to get the benefits for helping decision making. Methods: We retrospectively investigated 53 cases (4.0%) of AchA aneurysm treated surgically. We divided the AChA aneurysm to 3 subtype according to the origin of aneurysmal neck; A type originating from the AChA itself. J type from junction of AChA and ICA and I type from the ICA itself. We evaluated brain CT about 1 week post-operative day to confirm the low density in AChA territory. Results: Ruptured aneurysm was 26 cases and unruptured aneurysm 27 cases. The aneurysmal subtype of A, J, and I was 13, 17, and 23 cases. Of the 53 cases who performed surgical neck clipping, twelve (22.6%) had postoperative AChA distribution infarcts. Increased infarct after neck clipping had statistic significance in non-I subtype (r=0.005) Conclusion: AChA aneurysm surgery carries a significant risk of postoperative stroke. Don't always stick to clipping only, especially in non-I type of incidental small aneurysm, which has high risk of post-clip ischemic complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제66권6호
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• pp.690-702
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• 2023

Objective : To analyze the outcomes of coil embolization (CE) for unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) according to region and hospital size based on National Health Insurance Service data in South Korea. Methods : The incidence of complications, including intracranial hemorrhage (ICRH) and cerebral infarction (CI), occurring within 3 months and the 1-year mortality rates in UIA patients who underwent CE in 2018 were analyzed. Hospitals were classified as tertiary referral general hospitals (TRGHs), general hospitals (GHs) or semigeneral hospitals (sGHs) according to their size, and the administrative districts of South Korea were divided into 15 regions. Results : In 2018, 8425 (TRGHs, 4438; GHs, 3617; sGHs, 370) CEs were performed for UIAs. Complications occurred in 5.69% of patients seen at TRGHs, 13.48% at GHs, and 20.45% at sGHs. The complication rate in TRGHs was significantly lower than that in GHs (p=0.039) or sGHs (p=0.005), and that in GHs was significantly lower than that in sGHs (p=0.030). The mortality rates in TRGHs, GHs, and sGHs were 0.81%, 2.16%, and 3.92%, respectively, with no significant difference. Despite no significant difference in the mortality rates, the complication rate significantly increased as the number of CE procedures per hospital decreased (p=0.001; rho=-0.635). Among the hospitals where more than 30 CEs were performed for UIAs, the incidence of CIs (p=0.096, rho=-0.205) and the mortality rates (3 months, p=0.048, rho=-0.243; 1 year, p=0.009, rho=-0.315) significantly decreased as the number of CEs that were performed increased and no significant difference in the incidence of post-CE ICRH was observed. Conclusion : The complication rate in patients who underwent CE for UIA increased as the hospital size and physicians' experience in conducting CEs decreased. We recommend nationwide quality control policies CEs for UIAs.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.94-102
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• 1997

목적: 자기공명혈관조영술(magnetic resonance angiography: MRA)을 이용하여 뇌동맥류를 비침습적 방법으로 진단하고자 하는 시도가 있었지만 크기가 3mm 이하인 경우 진단에 애로가 많았다. 뇌동맥류의 진단에 있어 최근 개발된 고해상도, 고속의 slice interpolation 자기 공명혈관조영술과 디지탈 감산 혈관조영술(digital subtraction angiography: DSA)의 결과를 전향적으로 비교하여 보편적인 선별 검사법으로 가능성을 확인하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 총 19명의 환자에서 26개의 뇌동맥류를 대상으로 하였다. 모두 자기공명혈관조영술을 먼저 촬영하여 기원혈관, 동맥류경부의 확인, 인근 작은 혈관과의 연관관계등을 확인한 후 디지탈 감산 혈관조영술을 시행하여 비교하였다. 영상은 1.5T 초전도형기계(Vision, Siemens, erlangen, Germany)를 이용하여 slice interpolation 을 이용한 자기공명혈관조영술로 촬영하였다. 촬영은 TR / TE / FA = 30 / 6.4 / 25, matrix $512{\times}160$, 관찰면 $200{\times}150$, 촬영시간 7분 42초, 유효 두께 0.7mm, 총 두께가 102.2mm로 하여 대공(foramen magnum)에서 전뇌동맥(anterior cerebral artery)의 A3 부위까지 충분히 포함되도록 하였다. 영상분석은 최대강도투사(maximum intensity projection: MIP)를 사용하였으며 두개강내 동맥류가 있는 경우 다면재구성(multiplanar reconstruction: MPR) 기법을 사용하였다. 결과: 19명의 환자중 2명이 3개, 3명이 2개, 나머지 14명이 각각 1개씩의 두개강내 동맥류를 가져 모두 26개 였으며 파열된 동맥류가 14개였고 파열되지 않은 동맥류가 12 개이었다. 크기가 2mm 이하가 8개, 3-5mm가 9개, 6-9mm가 7개이며 10mm이상이 2개가 있었다. 처음 검사에서 자기공명혈관조영술과 디지탈 감산 혈관조영술에서 23개의 동맥류중 내경동맥에 1mm 크기의 동맥류 1개를 제외한 25개를 각각 발견할 수 있어 96%의 예민도를 보였으나 진음성과 위음성은 없어 특이도를 측정할 수 없었다. 크기와 모양을 확인하는데 자기공명혈과조영술과 다면재구성을 동시에 사용한 경우 디지탈 감산 혈관조영술과 같은 성적을 보인 반면 동맥류 경부와 기원혈관을 확인하는데도 자기공명혈관조영술의 다면재구성을 동시에 사용한 경우가 자기공명혈관조영술 또는 디지탈 감산 혈관조영술만 사용한 경우 보다 월등히 좋았다. 결론: Slice interpolation 기법을 이용한 고해상 자기공명혈관조영술은 두개강내 동맥류를 검사하는데 디지탈 감산 혈관조영술과 동일한 성적을 보여 앞으로 비침습적 일차 선별 검사법으로 가능할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.314-319
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• 2008

Objective: For patients with giant or dissecting aneurysm, multimodal treatment consisting extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery plus clip or coil for parent artery occlusion may be necessary. In this study, the safety and efficacy of multimodal treatment in 15 patients with complex aneurysms were evaluated retrospectively. Methods: From January 1995 to June 2007, the authors treated 15 complex aneurysms that were unable to be clipped or coiled. Among them, nine patitents had unruptured aneurysms and 6 had ruptured aneurysms. Aneurysms were located in the internal cerebral artery (ICA) in 11 patients (4 in the dorsal wall. 4 in the terminal ICA, 1 in the paraclinoid, and 2 in the cavernous ICA), in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 2, and in the posterior circulation in two patients Results: Fifteen patients with complex aneurysms were treated with bypass surgery previously. Thirteen patients were treated with external carotid middle cerebral artery (ECA-MCA) anastomosis, and one patient with superficial temporal to posterior cerebral artery (STA-PCA) and another patient with occipital artery to posterior inferior cerebellar artery (OA-PICA) anastomosis. Parent artery occlusion was then performed with a clip in 9 patients, with a coil in 4, with balloon plus coil in one patient. All 15 aneurysms were successfully treated with clip or coil combined with bypass surgery. Follow-up angiograms showed good patency of anastomotic site in 10 out of 11 patients, and perfusion study showed sufficient perfusion in 6 out of 9 patients. Conclusion: These findings indicate that for patients with complex aneurysms, clip or coil for parent vessel occlusion with additive bypass surgery can successfully exclude the aneurysm from the neurovascular circulatory system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제58권6호
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• pp.518-527
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• 2015

Objective : The treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms remains challenging. One approach is the application of surgical flow alteration to treat aneurysms that are neither clippable, trappable, or coilable. The efficacy and limitations of surgical flow alteration have not yet been established. Methods : Cases of complex aneurysms treated with surgical flow alteration (proximal occlusion with or without bypass, distal occlusion with or without bypass and bypass only) were included in this retrospective study. Results : Among a total of 16 cases, there were 7 giant aneurysms (${\geq}25mm$ diameter) and 9 large aneurysms (>10 mm diameter); 15 of 16 aneurysms were unruptured. There were 8 aneurysms located in the anterior circulation, while the other 8 were in the posterior circulation. Aneurysms were treated with proximal occlusion in 10 cases and distal occlusion in 5 cases; in 1 case, the aneurysm occluded spontaneously after bypass without parent artery occlusion. All but 2 cases underwent prior or concurrent bypass surgery. Complete obliteration of the aneurysm at the latest imaging follow-up was shown in 12 of 16 cases (75.0%). Bypass patency was confirmed in 13 of 15 cases (86.7%). Surgery-related morbidity developed in 3 cases (18.8%, Glasgow outcome scale of 4) and all were perforator infarctions. There were no mortalities. Conclusion : Surgical flow alteration resulted in a high rate of aneurysmal obliteration with acceptable morbidity. Although several limitations remained, it could represent an alternative method for treating complex aneurysms.