Hormone Concentration Measurement in Intracranial Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae.

OBJECTIVE: Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVFs) represent a subset of cerebral vascular malformations associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In Japan, DAVF exhibits sex-based differences in anatomical distribution, with female predominance in the cavernous sinus (CS) and male predominance in the transverse sinus (TS). Nevertheless, the pathophysiology of DAVF is not fully understood, and hormonal influences are hypothesized to play a role in its development. This study aimed to investigate changes in the concentrations of sex steroid hormones between intracranial and peripheral sampling sites in patients with CS- and TS-DAVF. METHODS: We recruited 19 patients with CS-DAVF (n = 12) and TS-DAVF (n = 7) in this study. Blood hormone measurements were obtained from peripheral and jugular bulb samples during endovascular intervention. Hormone concentrations were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, and statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: Our study revealed a higher prevalence of CS-DAVF in females and TS-DAVF in males, which is consistent with previous studies. Estradiol concentration was significantly lower in the jugular bulb compared with in the periphery in both patients with CS- and TS-DAVF. This decrease in estradiol was observed irrespective of the patient's sex and independent of follicle-stimulating hormone levels. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate a local decrease in estradiol levels within the intracranial vasculature of patients with DAVF. This suggests a potential multifactorial role of estradiol in the pathomechanism of DAVFs, warranting further investigation to understand its influence on DAVF formation and potential targeted therapies, thereby enhancing patient outcomes.

Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm with a Peculiar Angiographic Appearance: A Case Study.

We describe a case of pulsatile anterior communicating artery aneurysm (A-com AN) with a peculiar angiographic appearance. An 81-year-old man was referred to the department of neurosurgery for a large A-com AN artery aneurysm, which was detected incidentally. The patient hoped not to be treated but to be followed up. After 4 months, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the presence of a cerebral edema and hematoma around the aneurysm, and partial thrombus in the upper wall of the aneurysm was suspected. Based on these findings, the patient underwent an immediate coil embolization a day after admission. However, the portion of the neck remnant increased in size after the first procedure. Therefore, 8 months after the initial procedure, he was treated with stent coil embolization. Contrary to the first procedure, angiographic evaluation revealed an active pulsating aneurysm. Moreover, MRI revealed the presence of a partial thrombus in the upper neck segment of the aneurysm, with an intensity that changed over time. The patient underwent cautious treatment and was discharged without any symptoms. This is the first case study to reveal an A-com AN with active pulsation and the relationship between the pulsatile portion of the aneurysm and thrombosed portion by MRI.

Short-segment Internal Trapping for Symptomatic Thrombosed Large Fusiform Vertebral Artery Aneurysms (Bird's Nest Trapping): A Technical Note.

Internal trapping with coils is an established treatment of symptomatic large non-branching thrombosed fusiform vertebral artery aneurysms (VAA). However, when perforators arise near the aneurysm neck, parent artery occlusion has a high risk of causing medullary infarction. As an alternative treatment, we performed short-segment internal trapping of the artery using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and coils (bird's nest trapping). Before treatment, perianeurysmal perforators are carefully detected using high-resolution three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA). Double microcatheters are advanced to the distal portion of the aneurysm through a balloon guiding catheter where coils are deployed without tight packing. Then, NBCA is injected into the coil mass, taking care to preserve perforators and significant branches. The same maneuver is repeated in the proximal portion of the aneurysm. Coil placement is avoided within the middle of the aneurysm; however, if necessary, only a small number of coils are placed to prevent worsening of mass effect. Two quinquagenarian males presented with a large thrombosed fusiform VAA that caused symptoms due to mass effect. In each case, perforators arose from the parent artery and short-segment internal trapping with NBCA and coils was performed. Symptoms improved after treatment and follow-up imaging confirmed aneurysm shrinkage with no long-time recurrence. In symptomatic large fusiform VAAs where the distance from the lesion to important perforators is extremely short, internal trapping using a combination of NBCA and coils can be more useful than conventional internal trapping.

Development and clinical evaluation of a contactless operating interface for three-dimensional image-guided navigation for endovascular neurosurgery.

PURPOSE: In endovascular neurosurgery, the operator often acquires three-dimensional (3D) images of the cerebral vessels. Although workstation reoperation is required in some situations during treatment, it leads to time loss because a sterile condition cannot be maintained and treatment must be temporarily interrupted. Therefore, a workstation reoperating system is required while maintaining the desired sterility. METHODS: A contactless operating interface using Kinect to control 3D images was developed via gesture recognition for endovascular neurosurgery and was applied to a 3D volume rendering technique (VRT) image reconstructed at the workstation. The left-hand movement determines the assigned functions, whereas the right-hand movement is used like a computer mouse to pan and zoom in/out. In addition to the interface, voice commands were used and assigned to digital operations, such as image view changes and mode signal changes. RESULTS: This system was used for the actual endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms and cerebral arteriovenous malformations. The operator and gesture were recognized without any problems. Using voice operation, it was possible to expeditiously set the VRT image back to the reference angle. Furthermore, it was possible to finely adjust gesture operations, including mouse operation, and treatment was completed while maintaining sterile conditions. CONCLUSION: A contactless operating interface was developed by combining the existing workstation system with Kinect and voice recognition software, allowing surgeons to perform a series of operations, which are normally performed in a console room, while maintaining sterile conditions.

Analysis of relationship between superior hypophyseal artery visualization and preservation and postoperative visual field deficit in paraclinoid aneurysm.

Direct surgery for paraclinoid aneurysms can result in visual field deficit owing to compromised blood flow to the superior hypophyseal artery (SHA). However, it is rarely visualized in angiography, and discussions regarding its preservation in the field of neuro-endovascular treatment are limited. Biplane angiographic suite with high spatial resolution has been used at our institution since 2014. Since then, there were a few cases where SHAs could be visualized via digital subtraction angiography. We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between the presences and abscence of SHAs in paraclinoid aneurysms and post-procedural visual field deficit. Sixty-three paraclinoid aneuryms treated by neuro-endovascular procedure in 2014-2018 at our neurosurgery department were analyzed. Pre- and post-procedural multiplanar reconstruction imagings of three-dimensional rotation angiography were analyzed to retrospectively investigate the SHAs. SHAs were visualized in 26 patients (41%) and the median number of pre-procedurally visualized SHAs was 0 (interquartile range 0-1). Their origins were the aneurysmal necks in 11 patients (42%). In two of the 11 cases, they were noticed before coil embolization and were able to be preserved after the procedure. In the remaining nine cases, they were not pre-procedurally detected, and coiling was normally conducted. Visual field deficit occurred in one of these nine cases, but symptoms were transient, and the patient fully recovered. Because SHAs could be visualized in >40% cases and no visual field defects occurred in cases that SHAs could be identified and preserved preoperatively, we recommend their preservation during coil embolization for paraclinoid aneurysms.