Microsurgical treatment of distal middle cerebral artery aneurysm: A single-center review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the characteristics of distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm treated by microsurgery, the detailed surgical options, and the clinical result. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed cerebral aneurysm in the M2 and M3 segments of the MCA surgically treated between January 2015 and December 2022. The demographic data, aneurysm-related findings, type of surgical approach, surgical technique, and clinical outcomes of the enrolled patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen distal MCA aneurysms were treated with microneurosurgery (incidence, 1.0%; female, 12; mean age, 58.1 years; ruptured, three). Twelve aneurysms were in the M2 segment (insular segment), two aneurysms at the M2-M3 junction, and two aneurysms in the M3 segment (opercular segment). Twelve aneurysms were saccular (average size, 4.9 mm; multiplicity, 50%; average aneurysms, 3.0; partially thrombosed, 1; sidewall aneurysm, 2). Three aneurysms were fusiform, of which two were ruptured. Of the ruptured aneurysms, one was a ruptured dissecting aneurysm. The trans-sylvian and trans-sulcal approaches were used in fourteen and two patients, respectively. Neck clipping, wrap clipping, and surgical trapping were performed in twelve, one, and one patient, respectively. Proximal occlusion was performed in one patient. Bypass technique was required in two patients (neck clipping and proximal occlusion). The modified Rankin Score was 6 in the two patients with ruptured aneurysms. The remaining patients did not show further neurological deterioration after microneurosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: Distal MCA aneurysms had a high incidence of being diagnosed with multiple other aneurysms and were relatively non-saccular.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Caused by Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: A Case Report.

This case report presents a rare case of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) caused by spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). The cause and prognosis of CVT can vary; CVT caused by SIH is uncommon and difficult to diagnose and treat. In this case, magnetic resonance imaging myelography showed definite cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and the patient's symptoms did not improve after conventional treatment. Furthermore, subdural hematoma occurred, causing mental deterioration; however, it improved dramatically after the blood patch procedure and burr hole drainage, which was performed after early cessation of anticoagulant therapy.

Causes of early rebleeding after coil embolization of ruptured cerebral aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: Early rebleeding after coil embolization of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm is rare but may cause severe disability or death. We present a case series of early rebleeding after coil embolization of ruptured cerebral aneurysms and investigate the incidence, clinical outcome and possible mechanism through retrospective analysis of angiographic and surgical findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 347 consecutive patients who had undergone successful coil embolization of 347 ruptured cerebral saccular aneurysms. Clinical and angiographic data and findings from emergent surgery were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Early rebleeding occurred in eight aneurysms (2.3%) and was especially frequent among anterior communicating artery lesions (6 out of 122, 4.9%). The other two events involved posterior communication artery lesions. The maximum diameter of the aneurysms that developed early rebleeding was 4.89 ± 0.65 mm, ranging from 3.9 to 5.7 mm. In seven out of eight patients, the immediate radiologically determined occlusion status was a residual neck, and the remaining patient had a residual sac. The coil packing density was between 21% and 34%. Six cases of rebleeding were detected within 48 h, 1 case was detected on the 5th day, and 1 case was detected on the 10th day. Coil compaction was not detected by follow-up angiography after early rebleeding. We performed surgical clipping as a rescue procedure in 5 cases and additional coil embolization in 1 case. During follow-up angiography and rescue clipping, inflow of blood to the aneurysm was detected in 6 cases. Three patients died, and the other 3 patients were severely disabled. The mechanisms of early rebleeding were divided into two types. First, blood may flow into the rupture site through a gap between the coil mesh and the aneurysm neck. Second, blood may enter the rupture site through the coil mesh due to insufficient thrombus formation. CONCLUSIONS: The early rebleeding rate after coil embolization of ruptured cerebral aneurysms in our study was 2.3%. The ruptured aneurysms were small in size (<6 mm), and rupture frequently occurred in the anterior communicating artery. In most cases, inflow of blood to the aneurysm was detected by follow-up angiography or during rescue surgery.

Gamma Knife surgery for invasive pituitary macroadenoma.

OBJECT: Pituitary adenomas have been treated using a variety of modalities including resection, medication, fractionated radiotherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery. The policy has been that all adenomas should first be treated with resection to reduce the volume of the tumor. The authors' study was conducted to determine the efficacy of using Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for pituitary adenomas invading the cavernous sinus. METHODS: Of 397 patients with pituitary tumors who underwent GKS between October 1994 and October 2005, 68 patients had pituitary macroadenomas invading the cavernous sinus. Sixty-seven cases were available for follow up. The mean age of the patients in these cases was 42.8 years (range 14-73 years). The male/female ratio was 0.8:1. The mean adenoma volume was 9.3 cm3. A total of 24 patients had undergone craniotomies and resection, and 11 patients had undergone transsphenoidal surgery prior to GKS. The mean follow-up period was 32.8 months. Tumor control was defined as a decrease or no change in tumor volume after GKS. Endocrinological improvement was defined as a decline in hormone levels to below 50% of the pre-GKS level. Tumor control was achieved in 95.5% of the cases. Endocrinological improvement was achieved in 68% of 25 patients. One patient suffered hypopituitarism after GKS. CONCLUSIONS: Gamma Knife surgery is a safe and effective treatment for invasive pituitary macroadenoma with few complications.

Gamma Knife surgery for intracranial aneurysms associated with arteriovenous malformations.

The incidence of aneurysms coexisting with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) ranges between 2.7 and 16.7%. The anatomical relationship between the AVM and the aneurysm is critical in deciding the best management. As a broad guide, this relationship can be classified as follows: 1) aneurysms unrelated to the AVM; or 2) aneurysms located on the feeding vessels to the nidus, which may be far away from the nidus or close to it or even within the nidus itself. Although radiosurgery has been widely accepted as a method of choice for AVM treatment, the role of radiosurgery for arterial aneurysms has not been adequately discussed.