Multicenter Experience with FRED Jr Flow Re-Direction Endoluminal Device for Intracranial Aneurysms in Small Arteries.

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 O'Kelly-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.

Intraarterial Thrombolysis with r-tPA for Treatment of Anterior Circulation Acute Ischemic Stroke. Technical and Clinical Results.

SUMMARY: 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.

MR imaging, CT, and angiography features of endolymphatic sac tumors: report of two cases.

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.

Distal middle cerebral artery aneurysms. Endovascular treatment results with literature review.

SUMMARY: 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.

Cervical neural foraminal widening caused by the tortuous vertebral artery.

A case of cervical neural foraminal widening due to tortuous vertebral artery is presented. This entity is rarely seen. Plain radiography, CT, 3-D CT angiography, MRI, and MRA findings of the case are presented and the importance of this vascular anomaly in the differential diagnosis of neural foraminal widening is discussed.

A rare cause of hyperprolactinemia: persistent trigeminal artery with stalk-section effect.

The primitive trigeminal, otic, hypoglossal, and proatlantal intersegmental arteries are fetal anastomoses between the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems. Persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) is the most frequent embryonic communication between the vertebrobasilar and carotid systems in adults. We report a case of PTA compressing the left side of the pituitary gland and stalk, in a patient with elevated blood prolactin level.

Middle cerebral artery duplication associated with multiple intracranial aneurysms. Case report.

We present a case of middle cerebral artery (MCA) duplication associated with ipsilateral distal MCA and contralateral MCA bifurcation aneurysms.

Tuberculous abdominal aortic aneurysm in a 14-year-old child.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are rare in childhood. We present a case of aneurysm of the abdominal aorta in a child with tuberculous para-aortic lymphadenitis.

Large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumour of the testis: associated organ anomalies.

A case is reported of unilateral, focal large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumour (LCCSCT) of the testis associated with complex endocrine disorders and cardiac myxomas. It is believed that there are two distinct groups of patients with this tumour: those who have complex dysplastic syndromes and bilateral and multifocal tumours; and those without any syndromes but who have unilateral and focal tumours. The presented case differs in that, although the patient has a unilateral focal tumour, unique organ anomalies, such as renal agenesis and inferior vena cava duplication, are also present. These anomalies with LCCSCT have not been reported before.

Arteriovenous malformation of the choroid plexus.

A case of a 55-year-old female with arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the choroid plexus within the right ventricle is reported. Arteriovenous malformation of the choroid plexus is a rare occurrence. The MR findings of this malformation are discussed.