Giant serpentine aneurysm of the distal anterior cerebral artery

Fusiform aneurysms of anterior cerebral artery: center experience and systematic literature review

Fusiform aneurysms of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) are uncommon, and the natural history of this entity is poorly characterized. Along with our center experience, we conducted a systematic literature review to help shed light on the clinical course of ACA fusiform aneurysms. We queried our institutional database to identify cases with fusiform aneurysms of ACA. In addition, following the PRISMA algorithm, we identified all reported cases published in the English literature from the inception of PubMed until December 2022. We categorized clinical presentations into three categories: (i) traumatic/iatrogenic, (ii) spontaneous symptomatic ruptured/unruptured, and (iii) spontaneous asymptomatic aneurysms. We utilized descriptive statistics. We identified seven cases from our center along with 235 patients from published literature. Blunt trauma was responsible for the development of 19 aneurysms. Sixty-three percent of these aneurysms tend to rupture within 2 weeks from the initial trauma, and despite treatment, only 74% of these patients had good clinical outcomes. Spontaneous symptomatic presentation occurred in 207 patients and was often associated with previous/concomitant ACA dissection. Subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured aneurysms was the most common presentation. Spontaneous symptomatic fusiform aneurysm is rapidly evolving lesions, and treatment is necessary. Three of our own cases were treated with an endovascular flow diverter (pipeline) stenting with good outcomes. Spontaneous asymptomatic aneurysms were reported in nine patients. These lesions are often associated with other vascular abnormalities. Treatment included surgical clipping with good clinical outcomes. Instead, four patients from our center database were managed conservatively with equally good outcomes. Our study demonstrates good clinical outcomes when fusiform aneurysms of ACA, especially when symptomatic, are treated promptly with either reconstructive or deconstructive therapies.

Flow diversion treatment for giant intracranial serpentine aneurysms

Background

Giant serpentine aneurysms (GSAs) are among the most complex and challenging type of intracranial aneurysms. Surgical clipping, bypass, or endovascular parent artery occlusion has been the main treatment of GSAs in the past. However, studies on flow diversion (FD) are limited. Therefore, we reported our experience with patients with GSAs treated with FD.

Methods

Patients with GSAs treated with FD from 2012 to 2020 in our single center were retrospectively reviewed. Angiographic outcomes were graded according to the O’Kelly–Marotta scale as complete occlusion (D), trace filling (C), entry remnant (B), or aneurysm filling (A). Clinical outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score. We also collected the patients’ treatment details and perioperative complications.

Results

Thirteen patients with 14 aneurysms were included, including three in the anterior circulation and 11 in the posterior circulation. Grades B–D were found in 72.7% (8/11) of the GSAs. Good prognosis (mRS score, 0–2) was found in 66.7% (8/12) and 50.0% (6/12) of the patients at the 6-month and latest follow-up, respectively. Parent artery occlusion was found in three cases of GSAs. Five postoperative complications were observed, including two minor complications and three major complications.

Conclusion

Although reconstructive treatment with FD could be considered as one of the treatment strategies for patients with both anterior and posterior circulation GSAs, however, the risk of complications and parent artery occlusion should be considered.

Giant serpentine aneurysm of the internal cerebral artery and mandibular aneurysm: a case report

BACKGROUND

Giant serpentine aneurysms (GSA) originate from saccular or spindle aneurysm, dissimilar from dissected aneurysm, that are defined as partially thrombosed giant aneurysms with tortuous internal vascular channel. The clinical and neuroradiologic characteristics are clarified and the mechanism of formation and the efficacy of double stent implantation in GSA are discussed.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 18-year-old man presented himself with a GSA arising from the internal cerebral artery (ICA). In addition, a mandibular aneurysm (MA) arose from the external cerebral artery (ECA). Success was achieved in treating GSA through endovascular treatment with double stents implanted in the parent artery, which were LEO stent and Tubridge flow diverter. After 1 year of follow-up, three-dimensional reconstruction of blood vessels revealed the disappearance of the serpentine access of GSA, which was found to be replaced with a roughly normal vascular structure.

CONCLUSIONS

Double stent implantation has provided a feasible treatment option for giant serpentine internal carotid aneurysms and eliminated the possibility of causing collateral circulation occlusion. Therefore, it represents a simple and suitable treatment method for anatomical structure and operation.

[Giant thrombosed aneurysm of the pericallosal artery: clinical observation, literature review]

Are characterized by Distal giant aneurysms of the anterior cerebral artery are an extremely rare pathology. There are less than 40 cases of this disease described in literature.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the article is to present the clinical observation of a successfully treated giant aneurysm of the pericallosal artery in a 58-year-old man, and also analyze the publications on distal cerebral aneurysms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The data of a patient hospitalized with a suspected tumor of the left brain hemisphere spreading to the left lateral ventricle is presented. Repeated MRI suggests a giant subtotal thrombotic aneurysm of the left perical artery, which was confirmed by SCT angiography. The patient underwent aneurysm treping-cliping with dissection of the aneurysm sac. In the analysis of the literature it was shown that the frequency of perical artery aneurysms varies from 5.3-6.0%, and giant aneurysms of this localization are extremely rare and occur in 1-4.5% of all perical artery aneurysms. Unlike distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms of small and medium size, giant aneurysms are characterized by pseudotumorrhagic symptoms, which causes diagnostic difficulties.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to remember about the diagnostic difficulties caused by the pseudotumorrhosis of the giant aneurysms of the pericallosal artery and the frequent negative angiography data due to total thrombosis of the aneurysmal sac. The gold standard is microsurgical clipping with excision of the aneurysmal sac. The prognosis for this group of patients is favorable.

Intracranial Serpentine Aneurysms: Spontaneous Changes of Angiographic Filling Pattern

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Serpentine aneurysms are partially thrombosed aneurysms with an eccentrically located tortuous intra-aneurysmal vascular channel. The large size, distinctive neck anatomy, and supply of the brain parenchyma by the outflow tract pose technical challenges in treatment. The aim of this study was to discuss the endovascular treatment results and illustrate the dynamic nature of serpentine aneurysms. Spontaneous transformation of saccular and fusiform aneurysms into serpentine morphology, along with a case of serpentine-into-fusiform aneurysm transformation during follow-up, is presented.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis from 3 institutions revealed 15 patients with serpentine aneurysms who underwent diagnostic evaluation and endovascular treatment. Nine of the 15 patients underwent endovascular occlusion of the parent vessel with detachable balloon or coils. Six of the 15 patients underwent aneurysm and parent artery occlusion with coiling.

RESULTS

In 11 patients, improvement or resolution of symptoms was achieved by an endovascular approach without any treatment-related morbidity. Morbidity related to treatment in the immediate postoperative period was seen in 3 patients, with resolution of the deficits at long-term follow-up in 2 patients and persistence of a mild deficit in 1 patient. Endovascular treatment failed to achieve resolution of symptoms in a case with a basilar tip aneurysm treated by aneurysm coiling.

CONCLUSIONS

Serpentine aneurysms are dynamic structures with spontaneous transformation possible from a saccular or fusiform shape into a serpentine configuration. An endovascular approach by parent vessel occlusion or intra-aneurysmal occlusion is a successful treatment technique for serpentine aneurysms.

Giant Serpentine Aneurysm of the Middle Cerebral Artery

BACKGROUND

Giant serpentine aneurysms (GSAs) are a subgroup of giant intracranial aneurysms, distinct from saccular and fusiform varieties, that are defined as partially thrombosed giant aneurysms with tortuous internal vascular channel. Clinicopathologic characteristics of middle cerebral artery GSAs have been rarely reported in the literature, with discussion of radiologic characteristics only. We clarify patient clinical and neuroradiologic features and discuss the mechanism of formation and progression.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 43-year-old woman presented with a GSA arising from the middle cerebral artery. There was a separate inflow and outflow channel of the aneurysm, with the outflow channel feeding the distal branches of the parent artery and supplying normal brain parenchyma. The GSA was treated successfully by aneurysmectomy and superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass followed by proximal occlusion and vascular reconstruction. An aneurysm specimen was examined to correlate pathologic findings and morphologic characteristics.

RESULT

Pathologic results showed that thickness of the aneurysmal wall was typically increased and varied, and no internal elastic lamina or endothelial lining could be identified. The sac contained thrombi of various ages with recanalizing vessel formation and chronic inflammation infiltration. Intimal hyperplasia and neoangiogenesis in the wall and hyaline degeneration of the media were observed. Vessels coursing in their adventitia showed mucoid changes, which are responsible for the contrast enhancement of the aneurysmal rim on computed tomography scan.

CONCLUSIONS

GSAs are a specific pathologic entity with unique morphologic and pathologic characteristics that can affect intracranial blood vessels. The pathogenic mechanisms are unclear; this report suggests that GSAs may be associated with degeneration of the vascular wall.

Study and Therapeutic Progress on Intracranial Serpentine Aneurysms

An intracranial serpentine aneurysm (SA) is a clinically rare entity, and very few multi-case studies on SA have been published. The present study reviewed the relevant literature available on PubMed. The studied information included the formation mechanism and natural history of SA as well as its clinical manifestation, imaging characteristics, and current treatments. After reviewing the literature, we conclude that intracranial SA can be managed surgically and by endovascular embolization, but the degree of blood flow in normal brain tissue distal to the SA must be evaluated. A balloon occlusion test (BOT) or cross compression test is recommended for this evaluation. If the collateral circulation is sufficiently compensatory, direct excision or embolization can be performed. However, if the compensatory collateral circulation is poor, a bypass surgery is necessary. Satisfactory results can be achieved in the majority of SA patients after treatment. However, the size of the aneurysm may increase in some patients after endovascular treatment. Special attention should be paid to cases exhibiting a significant mass effect to avoid subsequent SA excision due to an intolerable mass effect. Satisfactory results can be achieved with careful treatment of SA.

Endovascular management of fusiform aneurysm of anterior temporal artery: Technical report

Background:

The treatment of a rare, nontraumatic, fusiform aneurysm of the anterior temporal artery (ATA) via endovascular techniques is presented, and procedural nuances are highlighted.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective chart review and collected demographic and clinical data on the patient presented here; procedural details were extracted from operative notes.

Results:

Following successful balloon test occlusion (BTO) of the ATA, complete coil embolization of the ATA, and its associated fusiform aneurysm was performed. Postprocedurally, the patient did not suffer any adverse neurological sequelae.

Conclusion:

Selective BTO of intracranial branch vessels is safe, technically feasible, and could serve as a useful technical tool in the treatment of complex, fusiform intracranial aneurysms.