Giant Cell Arteritis with Intracranial and Extracranial Aneurysms: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a relatively rare, auto-immune vasculitis, more common in women over age 50. It is important to recognize and treat the disease early to prevent late complications of permanent vision loss. Inflammation-associated weakening of vessel walls involved by GCA may also represent a potential etiology for intracranial aneurysm development. In this report, we describe an atypical presentation of GCA confirmed with temporal artery biopsy with associated manifestations including intracranial right posterior communicating artery aneurysm and extracranial right internal carotid aneurysm. Our patient in a 78-year-old female who presented with progressively worsening headaches that began 10 days prior to admission. These were described as global, non-pulsatile, and located over her occiput. She reported associated jaw soreness while chewing or claudication. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was elevated at 74 mm/hr. Magnetic resonance angiogram showed a right posterior communicating artery aneurysm measuring 5 mm and a right cervical carotid lengthwise dissecting aneurysm measuring 12 mm. Left temporal artery biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of GCA. High-dose steroid therapy was initiated and was continued for treatment of GCA with resolution of symptoms at her one month follow-up. This case highlights a rare instance of cervical internal carotid aneurysm and intracranial aneurysm associated with GCA, emphasizing the systemic nature of this vasculitis.

Transcervical approach to distal extracranial internal carotid aneurysm.

We report the case of a 77-year-old woman presenting with an asymptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm arising at the skull base. The distal right extracranial ICA aneurysm presented as a challenging case due to difficulty in obtaining adequate surgical exposure and preserving the facial nerves present near the ICA aneurysm. Transcervical open repair with a team of vascular and otolaryngology surgeons was completed successfully. In this report, we detail the operative steps needed to complete this exposure and our perioperative management.

Recurrence of an extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm treated with STA-MCA bypass and trapping due to neovascularization from an ascending pharyngeal artery: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms (EICAs) are rare. Although a high mortality risk has been reported in nonoperated cases, the optimal treatment for EICAs remains unknown. OBSERVATIONS: A 79-year-old female presented with painless swelling in the right neck. Imaging revealed a giant EICA with a maximum diameter of 3.2 cm. Superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass and internal carotid artery (ICA) trapping were performed. Because the distal aneurysm edge was at the C1 level, the distal portion of the aneurysm was occluded by endovascular coiling, and the proximal portion was surgically ligated. Blood flow into the aneurysm disappeared after the operation. Three years postsurgery, enlargement of the aneurysm with blood flow from the ascending pharyngeal artery (APA) was detected. The EICA was resected after coiling the APA and ligating both ends of the aneurysm. Pathologically, neovascularization within the aneurysm wall was observed. LESSONS: Even if blood flow into an EICA disappears after ICA trapping, the EICAs can enlarge due to neovascularization from the neighboring artery. From the outset, removal of the aneurysm should be considered as a radical treatment strategy for giant EICAs.

Corrigendum: Case report: Ruptured internal carotid artery fusiform aneurysm mimicking pituitary apoplexy after stereotactic radiosurgery.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1219372.].

Case report: Ruptured internal carotid artery fusiform aneurysm mimicking pituitary apoplexy after stereotactic radiosurgery.

Pituitary adenomas are benign tumors of the anterior pituitary gland for which surgery or pharmacological treatment is the primary treatment. When initial treatment fails, radiation therapy should be considered. There are several case reports demonstrating radiation-induced vascular injury. We report an adult patient who presented with headache and diplopia for 6 months and a sellar tumor with optic chiasm compression. The patient received transnasal surgery, and the tumor was partially removed, which demonstrated adenoma. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) was arranged. However, owing to progressive tumor growth, the patient received further transnasal surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). After 14 years, the patient reported the sudden onset of headache and diplopia, and a ruptured fusiform aneurysm from the left internal carotid artery with pituitary apoplexy was diagnosed. The patient received transarterial embolization of the aneurysm. There were no complications after embolization, and this patient was ambulatory on discharge with blindness in the left eye and cranial nerve palsies. Aneurysm formation may be a complication of SRS, and it may occur after several years. Further research is needed to investigate the pathogenesis of radiosurgery and the development of cerebral aneurysms.

Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm - Challenges in the Management: A Case Report and Review Literature.

Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysms (EICA) are rare. Incidence is <1% of all an arterial aneurysm. This aneurysm being rare but is important because it is associated with a high risk of neurological thromboembolic events, cranial nerve compression, and rupture. The causes of the EICA are congenital, trauma leading to the pseudoaneurysm, atherosclerosis, infections, and fibromuscular dysplasia. Here, we describe a case report of a 69-year-old female with progressive enlargement of the right neck mass accompanied by dyspnea on exertion. The patient had been diagnosed as right EICA and underwent the endovascular procedure as parent vessel occlusion 4 years ago. There was still enlargement of the size of the right neck mass and was causing troublesome to the patient. We performed selective embolization of the various feeders to the mass, but after this also, it was still enlarging. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the computed tomography scan showed fusiform dilatation of the right proximal EICA. We made the diagnosis of the thrombosed EICA and hence we planned to undergo surgical management. We performed removal of the intraluminal thrombus and ligation of the EICA. The size of the swelling decreased significantly.

Surgical management of giant intrapetrous internal carotid aneurysm presenting with coil exposure after endovascular treatment.

Giant intrapetrous internal carotid aneurysms (petrous ICA aneurysm) are rare. A giant petrous ICA aneurysm presenting with otorrhagia and coil exposure to the external auditory meatus (EAM) after endovascular treatment has never been documented before. The authors report here a case of successful surgical trapping with bypass intervention of a giant petrous ICA aneurysm presenting with coil exposure after endovascular treatment. A 58-year-old man presented with persistent otorrhagia having been admitted to our hospital because of the recurrence of a giant petrous ICA aneurysm after repeated embolization treatments with coils. An electronic otoscope examination demonstrated that a piece of coil escaped into his right EAM. After multidisciplinary consultation, an extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass with ICA occlusion and coil removal with a closed EAM filling were performed in stages. The patient recovered quickly without any neurological deficits. A digital subtraction angiography confirmed the absence of the aneurysm and patency of the bypass graft.

Roles of Pipeline embolization device in combination with coils in the treatment of large and giant unruptured internal carotid artery aneurysms / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective To investigate the roles of Pipeline embolization device ( PED) in combination with coils in the treatment of large and giant unruptured internal carotid artery aneurysms. Methods From January 2014 to December 2016,51 patients with large (diameter 10-25 mm) and giant (diameter >25 mm) internal carotid artery aneurysms treated at the Department of Neurosurgery,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. Among them,35 were females and 16 were males, the average age was 53 ±13 years (range 15-71). They were divided into a PED group (n=31) and a PED combined with coil group (n=20) according to whether using coils for packing aneurysm cavity or not. The treatment of two groups of patients and ≥6 months of imaging follow-up effect were analyzed. The embolic rate was evaluated by Raymond grade. Results Thirty-one patients with 32 aneurysms ( mean diameter 15 ± 3 mm) in the PED group were treated with 33 PEDs,including 15 with cavernous sinus aneurysm and 17 with supraclinoid aneurysm;20 patients with 21 aneurysms ( mean diameter 17 ± 4 mm) were treated with 22 PEDs in the PED combined with coil group,including 10 cavernous sinus aneurysms and 11 supraclinoid carotid aneurysms. Six months after procedure,imaging follow-up revealed that the incidence of residual aneurysm ( Raymond grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ) in the PED group was significantly higher that that in the PED combined with coil group (9. 7% [n =3] and 0％,respectively). The incidence of thrombosis in PED combined with coil group was significantly higher than that in the PED group,there was significant difference between two groups (P<0. 05). Conclusions When using PED to treat large and giant internal carotid artery aneurysms,packing aneurysm cavity in combination with coils can reduce the incidence of residual aneurysm,but it may have a higher risk of thrombotic events. A prospective randomized controlled trial of large samples is still needed to prove it.

The unsteady numerical simulation research of internal carotid aneurysm based on CTA / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To discuss the hemodynamic features of internal carotid aneurysm,and study the relationship between hemodynamics and occurrence,development and rupture of internal carotid aneurysm .Methods The 3D model of internal carotid aneurysm was established by materialise's interactive medical image control system(MIMICS).The finite element analysis software ANSYS was used to carry out numerical simulation.Results Low wall shear stress of internal carotid aneurysms were located at the same area.The wall shear stress at different region were positive correlation with the blood flow velocity.Conclusion The blood flow velocity and wall shear stress at the top of aneurysm are relatively low.This position is consistent with the rupture position.The significant changes of hemodynamic at the top of aneurysm may trigger a series of mechanical biological effects on the internal carotid aneurysm wall.The changes alters cells'gene and protein's expression,causes rupture of the aneurysm.

Unruptured Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Associated with Functional Pituitary Adenoma: A True Association.

Detection of incidental intracranial aneurysm on neuroimaging can be associated with pituitary adenoma; however, such association is extremely rare. However, aneurysm with extension into the sella is extremely rare, and increases the risk of inadvertent intraoperative rupture, if trans-sphenoidal decompression is attempted either using endoscopic or microscopic surgical approach. Hanak et al. in a literature review of intrasellar noniatrogenic aneurysms over PubMed search in 2012 could only collect 31 studies, of which only eight cases had pituitary adenoma associated with aneurysm extending into sella. Authors report an interesting case of 52-year-old male diagnosed as case of acromegaly, was put on dopamine agonist, bromocriptine and responding well to therapy, however the magnetic resonance imaging raised suspicion of vascular pathology, and underwent digital subtraction angiography at our center revealed presence of right supracliniod internal carotid aneurysm, which was coiled using endovascular technique with resultant good outcome.

Association of brain abscess with a mycotic aneurysm of the contralateral internal carotid artery in a patient of cyanotic heart disease.

Congenital cyanotic heart disease can lead to intra-cranial involvement. Authors report a very rare case of right intra-cerebral abscess diagnosed on computerized tomography (CT) scan and simultaneous presence of an aneurysm of the left internal carotid artery diagnosed on CT angiogram in a 15-year-old child with congenital cyanotic heart disease with recent onset left hemiparesis. Right cerebral abscess was tapped and left internal carotid aneurysm was planned to be followed up by giving antibiotics and serial angiograms, but he could not survive and died due to non-cranial cause. We conclude that cerebral angiography is necessary to diagnose cerebro-vascular complications, including infectious aneurysms, in cases presenting with unusual findings on neuroimaging study. Patient must undergo serial angiography while being on intravenous antibiotics. Intervention (either surgical or endovascular) should be considered if there are no signs of regression of size of aneurysm or in the presence of aneurysm rupture. We have not been able to find a similar case in the English literature.

Coiling of a Ruptured Large Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm via Extracranial-Intracranial Saphenous Vein Bypass Graft Just After Proximal Ligation of the Internal Carotid Artery.

BACKGROUND: Combined direct and endovascular surgery has been performed to treat large to giant internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. This report describes successful treatment of a large ICA aneurysm by coiling of the aneurysm via an extracranial-intracranial saphenous vein (SV) graft just after bypass and ICA proximal ligation. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 66-year-old woman presented with a left ICA supraclinoid aneurysm with progressive visual field defect and impaired visual acuity in the left eye. While waiting for scheduled surgery, she experienced a subarachnoid hemorrhage. An extracranial-intracranial high-flow bypass using an SV graft and proximal ligation of the ICA were performed. Coiling of the aneurysm was immediately performed successfully via the SV bypass graft. The patient experienced no new neurologic deficit after this treatment. Follow-up radiologic evaluations using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography revealed complete aneurysm occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysm coiling via an extracranial-intracranial SV bypass graft could offer an alternative when an antegrade access route to the ICA is not used because of prior parent artery ligation.

Treatment of giant/large internal carotid aneurysms: parent artery occlusion or stent-assisted coiling.

PURPOSE: Treatment of giant/large internal carotid aneurysm is a challenge for neurologists. Previously, parent artery occlusion was the classic therapy; now the stent-assisted coil embolization has become available in recent years, but the optimal therapy is under debate. The goal of the present study was to compare two endovascular treatment modalities in terms of safety, efficacy and short-term outcomes. METHODS: All the patients were divided into two groups: Group A: patients who underwent parent artery occlusion, and Group B: patients who underwent stent-assisted coil embolization. Follow-up outcomes were evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). RESULTS: After 12 months of follow-up, the favorable outcome (mRS: 0-2) had no statistical significance in both groups (p = 1.00). Patients in group A had greater ischemia compared with patients in group B, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.421). In group B, patients had a higher rate of partial occlusion (p = 0.255) and recurrence (10% vs. 0%; p = 0.586). CONCLUSIONS: Stent-assisted coiling may not be superior to parent artery occlusion in selected patients after short-term follow-up. Parent artery occlusion is a simple, safe and effective treatment for large/giant internal carotid aneurysms.

Clipping of posteriorly projecting large posterior communicating aneurysm via transsylvian anterior temporal approach.

Clipping of a posterior projecting large posterior communicating aneurysm via transsylvian anterior temporal approach is presented. To expose and clip this large aneurysm, retraction of the temporal lobe is required via the conventional pterional approach. In this video, we demonstrate microsurgical techniques as to how to dissect and mobilize the sylvian veins as well as a bridging vein to the sphenoparietal sinus, and the middle cerebral artery branches to the frontal lobe side. After the microsurgical dissection, a wide anteriolateral temporal space is obtained without significant temporal lobe retraction. The aneurysm was completely obliterated via this approach. The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/vU9Nxm7Yn-A.

Carotid-Cavernous Fistula Manifesting as Symptomatic Bradycardia: A Unique Presentation.

A 54-year-old female with vertigo and sarcoidosis presented to the emergency department with a 4-day history of generalised malaise, headache, fever, and near syncope. She was noted to have severe bradycardia and was admitted for possible pacemaker implantation. During the admission, the patient voiced left eye complaints, the workup of which revealed a left internal carotid aneurysm that ruptured, causing a direct carotid-cavernous fistula. The patient underwent multiple procedures to tamponade the fistula, and the bradycardia resolved, avoiding pacemaker implantation.

Universal extracranial-intracranial graft bypass for large or giant internal carotid aneurysms: techniques and results in 38 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To present indications, surgical techniques, and outcomes of extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) graft bypass. METHODS: Between January 1996 and June 2011, 38 patients with large or giant internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms were treated using graft bypass, employing the radial artery (RA) or the saphenous vein (SV) as a graft. Preoperative balloon test occlusions were not performed in any of the cases. In 17 patients, the external carotid artery (ECA)-RA-M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery bypass was used for treatment, and ECA-SV-M2 bypass was used in 21 patients. RESULTS: All aneurysms were completely trapped, and there were no subarachnoid hemorrhages or recanalizations of aneurysms during the follow-up period (8-170 months). Of the 38 bypasses, 36 (94.7%) remained patent, and there were no permanent neurologic deficits. Hyperperfusion syndrome was not experienced in this series. There were 2 temporary neurologic deficits. In 1 case using the RA, graft vasospasm occurred, and kinking occurred in 1 case using the SV. Another patient with a SV graft had to undergo an emergent revision of the graft 8 hours after the initial operation. One patient with a SV graft underwent a second operation to control an epidural abscess. CONCLUSIONS: Universal EC-IC graft bypass is a safe and effective method for treating large or giant ICA aneurysms.

Numerical research of hemodynamic effects on internal carotid aneurysm with five types of stents / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate effects of endovascular stents with different structures and wire cross section shapes on the treatment of internal carotid aneurysm and its influence on hemodynamics and flexibility. Method Based on the same model of internal carotid aneurysm, five models with different stent intervention treatment were constructed, which had different stent structions or wire cross section shapes while their porosity rates were approximately the same. Numerical simulations were performed using finite volume method to get quantitative information of biomechanics. Results Among the five models, the mean flow rate in aneurismal cavity decreased maximally in the model with stent of rectangular cross section. Wall shear stress in aneurismal dome and aneurismal neck were found to decrease much more in models with circular cross section and rectangular spiral stent. The flexibility of mesh stent was far better than that of the spiral stent. Conclusions Mesh stent with rectangular cross section has better biomechanical influence on the treatment of internal carotid aneurysm. These findings may help clinicians to select a proper stent when treating arterial aneurysm.