Magnetic resonance perfusion imaging in proliferative cerebral angiopathy

Presentation and management of cerebral proliferative angiopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis on treatment outcomes

Cerebral Proliferative Angiopathy (CPA) is a rare brain vascular malformation, similar to Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM) but lacking of early venous drainage. Presentation and treatment outcomes were investigated, examining for morbidity, mortality and complications. A meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase and Web Of Science were searched with keywords such as "cerebral proliferative angiopathy" and "management". We pooled and meta-analyzed outcomes on documented CPA cases. 11,079 studies were pooled as a result of manual citation searching, 50 studies were included, adding up to 115 CPA cases. The majority of patients were females (1.38:1), with a mean age of presentation of 26.9 (19.4) years. Headache (46%) and seizures (34%) were the most common presenting symptoms. 37% of patients presented with focal neurologic deficit. Patients managed conservatively from the surgical standpoint (i.e. nonoperative management) did not undergo homogenous treatment strategies, and major complications were at 47% (95% CI: 17%, 76%), with a 1% mortality (95% CI: 0%, 6%). Surgical and embolization interventions presented the highest proportion of major complications, 66% (95% CI: 33%, 99%) and 73% (95% CI: 42%, 100%), respectively. The embolization subgroup led in mortality, with 3% (95% CI: 0%, 10%). No death was documented in patients undergoing surgery. CPA has a similar presentation to brain arteriovenous malformations, but its treatment outcomes are potentially worse. This difference is not attributable to heterogeneity in assigning patient treatment strategies. This highlights the need for more accurate diagnostic methods.

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy in pediatric age presenting as neurological disorders: A case report

BACKGROUND

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) is a rare subtype of arteriovenous malformation. It is extremely rare in pediatric patients and has serious implications for developing children. However, reports of these disorders worldwide are limited, and no uniform reference for diagnosis and treatment options exists. We report the case of a 6-year-old with CPA having predominantly neurological dysfunction and review the literature on pediatric CPA.

CASE SUMMARY

We report the case of a pediatric patient with CPA analyzed using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) who presented initially with a neurological disorder as the main manifestation. This case is the basis for further discussion of the clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of CPA in children. After the cerebral DSA, the patient was treated conservatively with sedation, fluid replacement, and blood anticoagulation. She could not cooperate with the follow-up magnetic resonance imaging examination because of her young age, and her family declined further treatment because of the surgery’s high risk. She was followed up for 3 months; her symptoms did not worsen.

CONCLUSION

This report of rare pediatric CPA can inform and advance clinical research on congenital cerebrovascular diseases.

A Proposed Algorithm for Managing Cerebral Proliferative Angiopathy

OBJECTIVE

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) is a rare disease, characterized by a large vascular nidus, diffuse angiogenesis, and intermingled normal brain tissue. Conservative treatment, endovascular intervention, indirect revascularization, and radiotherapy have been applied to treat this disease. However, some cases deteriorate even after non-conservative treatment, and there has been no standard of treatment for this disease so far. In order to build a better treatment strategy, we review literature, present our case and propose an algorithm for managing CPA.

METHODS

Following the PRISMA principle, we systemically reviewed literature discussing CPA. A case successfully managed with multi-modal treatment is also illustrated.

RESULTS

A total of 23 articles with 74 cases of CPA were found. Thirty-three patients received single-modal management. These 33 cases include 24 receiving endovascular intervention, 7 receiving indirect revascularization, and 2 receiving radiotherapy. Three of the 33 patients deteriorated clinically, and 1 expired. We present a 6-year-old boy with left hemispheric CPA receiving indirect revascularization, followed by 2 consecutive courses of stereotactic radiosurgery targeting arteriovenous shunts in the left basal ganglia and arteriovenous shunts around the olfactory groove. In the follow-up period of more than 4 years, good collateral formation, improved perilesional perfusion, CPA shrinkage, and symptom relief were all achieved.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our literature review and case, we propose an algorithm for the management of CPA and emphasize that multi-modal treatment is necessary for most CPA cases.

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy depicted by four-dimensional computed tomographic angiography: A case report

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy is a rare cerebrovascular disorder characterized by diffuse abnormal vessels with intermingled brain parenchyma fed by many arteries and draining into many veins without high-flow arteriovenous shunts, which is usually confirmed by conventional digital subtraction angiography. However, dilution of the contrast medium due to the markedly increased blood flow and volume in cerebral proliferative angiopathy leads to low-contrast angiography. We report a 53-year-old man with cerebral proliferative angiopathy who underwent CT, MR imaging, MR angiography, digital subtraction angiography and 4D-CTA. The 4D-CTA exhibited abnormal vessels without early venous filling between the atrophic brain parenchyma in higher contrast than the angiography due to high spatial and time resolution, whereas the left external carotid angiography visualized the characteristic transdural supply more clearly than the 4D-CTA due to high vascular selectivity. Therefore, novel 4D-CTA and conventional angiography plays a complementary role in the accurate diagnosis of cerebral proliferative angiopathy. Taking invasiveness into account, 4D-CTA may be advantageous for the diagnosis of cerebral proliferative angiopathy based on the characteristic imaging findings.

Cerebral Proliferative Angiopathy Presenting as Subdural Hematoma: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) is a rare cerebrovascular pathology that presents with unique clinical features due to distinct histologic, angiographic, and pathophysiologic characteristics that separate it from classical arteriovenous malformation. The disorder is characterized by uncontrolled angiogenesis in which functional brain parenchyma is interspersed with abnormal vascular channels without a distinct nidus. Common presenting symptoms include headache, seizures, and stroke-like symptoms. Hemorrhagic presentations are rare in contrast to the typical presentations of classical arteriovenous malformation. Here, we report a young woman with a history of a suspected connective tissue disorder who presented to the emergency department with worsening headaches in a delayed fashion after experiencing minor head trauma and was found to have a left-sided subdural hematoma. Angiography confirmed a diagnosis of CPA after abnormal cortical vasculature was noted during the patient's craniotomy. A systematic review of CPA cases described in the literature was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, with the findings discussed.

The current clinical picture of cerebral proliferative angiopathy: systematic review

BACKGROUND

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) is a rare subset of arteriovenous malformations (AVM). It has unique clinical presentation, angiographic characteristics, and pathophysiology which often brings challenges for the treatment. We aimed to define its epidemiology, pathophysiology are unknown, and best management strategies.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE was searched for articles regarding CPA. Extracted data included epidemiological, clinical, and angiographical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes. Treatment was classified as conservative, radiosurgery, endovascular, decompression, and indirect vascularization. A meta-analytical approach was employed for description of the data as study-size adjusted percentages or weighted means, as appropriate.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies were analyzed, rendering a total 95 cases-half of which came from a single study. Patients were predominantly young (mean 23 years old) and female (60.0%) presenting with headaches (44.9%), seizures (37.1%), or transient ischemic attacks (33.7%). Hemorrhage was present in 18.0%, but rebleeding rates were as high as 67%. The majority of nidus were > 6 cm (52.5%) with hemispheric extension (73.0%). Capillary angioectatic appearance (85.7%), transdural supply (62.5%), and deep venous drainage (73.0%) were also frequent features. Most patients were treated conservatively (54.4%), followed by endovascular (34.2%). Indirect vascularization and radiosurgery were attempted in five and two patients, respectively. Mean follow-up was 110.8 patient-years. Neurological status improved in 50.7%, remained stable in 40.2%, and worsened in 9.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative and endovascular treatments seem adequate interventions, despite limited evidence. Complementary techniques can be used in patients throughout disease history, according to symptom-based, individualized approach. More studies are required for choosing interventions based on reliable long-term results.

Cerebral revascularization in cerebral proliferative angiopathy: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) is considered a discrete vascular malformation of the brain separate from classical brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). It has unique angiographic characteristics and has been hypothesized to result from chronic cortical ischemia and perinidal oligemia. Treatment with cerebral revascularization has been proposed in an attempt to disrupt regional hypoperfusion and interrupt the angiogenesis that defines CPA. A systematic review of the literature pertaining to the role of cerebral revascularization may highlight a treatment paradigm for this rare disease.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. MEDLINE and Embase were searched from inception for papers relating to CPA. Included articles were categorized according to methodology (case series or imaging study) and treatment modality (conservative, radiation, endovascular, or revascularization). A synthesis was compiled summarizing the current evidence regarding cerebral revascularization in CPA.

RESULTS

The initial search revealed 43 articles, of which 28 studies met the inclusion criteria. Nine studies were identified that described imaging findings, which suggested hemodynamic dysregulation and perinidal impairments in the cerebrovascular reserve could be identified compared to unaffected hemispheres and classical brain AVMs. Six studies including 7 patients undergoing indirect forms of cerebral revascularization were identified. Clinical and radiological outcomes following revascularization were favorable in all but one study.

CONCLUSIONS

A small body of radiological and clinical studies has emerged, suggesting that CPA is a response to perinidal oligemia. While the long-term clinical efficacy of revascularization remains unclear, early results suggest that this may be a novel treatment paradigm for patients with CPA.

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy with tumor-like hemorrhage: A case report and literature review

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) is defined as a rare vascular disorder, characterized by diffuse arterial proliferation and distinctive angiogenetic features. Complication with hemorrhage is exceedingly rare, but once the bleeding occurs, the chance of re-bleeding is increased. Here we report a case of a patient with CPA complicated with bleeding and re-bleeding, and imaging findings mimicking a brain tumor, which has not been reported in the literature so far.

Encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis for cerebral proliferative angiopathy with cerebral ischemia

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) is a rare clinical entity. This disorder is characterized by diffuse vascular abnormalities with intermingled normal brain parenchyma, and is differentiated from classic arteriovenous malformations. The management of CPA in patients presenting with nonhemorrhagic neurological deficits due to cerebral ischemia is challenging and controversial. The authors report a case of adult CPA with cerebral ischemia in which neurological deficits were improved after encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS). A 28-year-old man presented with epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging and angiography showed a diffuse vascular network (CPA) in the right hemisphere. Antiepileptic medications were administered. Four years after the initial onset of epilepsy, the patient's left-hand grip strength gradually decreased over the course of 1 year. The MRI studies showed no infarcts, but technetium-99m-labeled ethyl cysteinate dimer ((99m)Tc-ECD) SPECT studies obtained with acetazolamide challenge demonstrated hypoperfusion and severely impaired cerebrovascular reactivity over the affected hemisphere. This suggested that the patient's neurological deficits were associated with cerebral ischemia. The authors performed EDAS for cerebral ischemia, and the patient's hand grip strength gradually improved after the operation. Follow-up angiography studies obtained 7 months after the operation showed profound neovascularization through the superficial temporal artery and the middle meningeal artery. A SPECT study showed slight improvement of hypoperfusion at the focal region around the right motor area, indicating clinical improvement from the operation. The authors conclude that EDAS may be a treatment option for CPA-related hypoperfusion.

Severely impaired cerebrovascular reserve in patients with cerebral proliferative angiopathy

OBJECT

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) has been morphologically distinguished from classically appearing brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) by exhibition of functional brain parenchyma that is intermingled with abnormal vascular channels. The presence of oligemia in this intralesional brain tissue may suggest ischemia, which is not detected in classic brain AVMs. The authors hypothesized that patients with CPA would exhibit a greater impairment of cerebrovascular reserve in neuronal tissue surrounding the true nidus compared with those with brain AVMs.

METHODS

Four patients with CPA, 10 patients with brain AVMs and seizures, and 12 young healthy individuals were studied. The 4 patients with CPA underwent blood oxygen level-dependent MR imaging examinations while applying normoxic step changes in end-tidal CO(2) to obtain quantitative cerebrovascular reactivity measurements.

RESULTS

Patients with a CPA lesion exhibited severely impaired perilesional cerebrovascular reserve in comparison with patients with brain AVMs and seizures (0.10 ± 0.03 vs 0.16 ± 0.03, respectively; p < 0.05), and young healthy individuals (0.10 ± 0.03 vs 0.21 ± 0.06, respectively; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated severely impaired cerebrovascular reserve in the perilesional brain tissue surrounding the abnormal vessels of patients with CPA. This finding may provide an additional means to distinguish CPA from classic brain AVMs.