Neuroradiology Journal最新文献

Despite their similar nomenclature, Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and "Neurofibromatosis type 2" are discrete and clinically distinguishable entities. The name of "neurofibromatosis type 2" has been changed to NF2-related schwannomatosis, to reflect the fact that neurofibromas do not occur in this syndrome and therefore the name "Neurofibromatosis" is factually incorrect. Furthermore, multiple schwannomas, a hallmark feature of NF2, can also occur in patients with mutations in genes including SMARCB1 and LZTR1, all exhibiting overlapping clinical features. Current understanding suggests that schwannomatosis (SWN) encompasses a range of clinical presentations consisting of clearly defined, separate subtypes which share a common phenotype of schwannomas. Recognizing these newly emerging subtypes, the International Consensus Group on Neurofibromatosis Diagnostic Criteria (I-NF-DC) proposed a revised nomenclature for NF2 and related disorders in 2022. This review article focuses on this critical update in diagnostic terminology, highlighting the key gene-related SWN subtypes relevant to neuroradiologists. By emphasizing molecular testing alongside clinical features, the revised system facilitates a more precise diagnosis, potentially paving the way for personalized treatment strategies. Additionally, the flexible structure accommodates future discoveries of genes associated with SWN.

Flow diversion is a transformative approach in neurointerventional surgery for intracranial aneurysms that relies heavily on effective antiplatelet therapy. The ideal approach, including the timing of treatment, the use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), and the number of flow-diverter devices to use, remains unknown. DAPT, which combines aspirin with a thienopyridine like clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor, is the standard regimen, balancing thromboembolic protection and hemorrhagic risk. The variable response to clopidogrel, influenced by genetic polymorphisms, necessitates personalized treatment strategies. Alternatives like prasugrel and ticagrelor provide superior efficacy in specific scenarios but require careful consideration of bleeding risks and costs. Platelet function testing plays a critical role in tailoring antiplatelet regimens for patients undergoing flow diversion for intracranial aneurysms. Special considerations were made for ruptured aneurysms, and the implications of the extensive metallic surface of flow diverters on platelet activation were noted. Emerging technologies such as drug-eluting flow diverters and reversal agents for P2Y12 inhibitors suggest a potential shift toward more refined antiplatelet strategies in the future. Personalized medication that is compatible with the stent structure and metal is essential for optimizing patient outcomes in cerebral flow diversion procedures. Ongoing research and multidisciplinary collaboration will be key in refining these strategies and enhancing the safety and efficacy of neurointerventional treatments.

BackgroundThe spinal arteriovenous malformations (sAVMs) have been challenging entities to diagnose and treat. The small structure, important function, and complex vascular anatomy of the spinal cord increase the difficulty of treating sAVMs.ObjectiveThe combining holistic and local perspectives in the diagnosis and treatment of sAVMs were provided to teach spinal vascular anatomy and AVMs.Methods and ResultsA holistic view is to fully understand the anatomical and physiological effects of intracranial vascular lesions on the spinal cord circulatory system, as well as the anatomical and physiological effects of local sAVM on the entire spinal cord circulatory system, such as the relationship between lesions and surrounding blood vessels. The local view is to fully understand the macroscopic and microscopic vascular architectural characteristics of the lesion. The local view is closely related to the treatment of lesions and the holistic view is closely related to the effectiveness and side effects of treatment, which should be given attention in current clinical practice. The early diagnosis and treatment of sAVMs may improve outcomes.ConclusionA holistic and local perspective is essential to developing an understanding of the angioarchitecture, pathophysiology, natural history, treatment options, and classification of the different types of sAVMs.

Dual-energy CT (DECT), also known as spectral CT, has advanced diagnostic capabilities in head and neck pathologies beyond those of conventional single-energy CT (SECT). By having images at two distinct energy levels, DECT generates virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs), iodine maps, and quantitative features such as iodine concentration (IC) and spectral Hounsfield unit attenuation curves (SHUAC), which leads to enhancing tissue characterization, reducing artifacts, and differentiating head and neck pathologies. This review highlights DECT's applications in evaluating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), thyroid cartilage invasion, cervical lymph node metastasis, radiation therapy planning, post-treatment assessment, and role in other head and neck conditions, such as infection and sialolithiasis. Additionally, it explores emerging applications of DECT in radiomics and artificial intelligence. The review also discusses about integrating DECT into clinical practice requires overcoming workflow challenges and ensuring radiologist proficiency with its diverse image reconstructions. As DECT technology evolves, its integration promises to further enhance the efficacy of managing head and neck pathologies.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are a type of vascular malformation that form within the dura mater. Though historically considered rare, their detection is expected to increase with the broader use of advanced cerebral angiography techniques. We describe two 80-year-old men presented for neurovascular procedures. The first, following an emergency craniotomy for subdural hematoma (SDH) evacuation, underwent middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE). During the procedure, an incidental, asymptomatic middle meningeal artery and superficial temporal artery to superior sagittal sinus (MMA/STA-SSS) dAVF was identified ipsilateral to the original surgical site. Given the fistula's low-risk nature, a conservative, watchful waiting approach was chosen. The second patient, undergoing digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), was found to have an MMA-fed dAVF. Due to the unclear causality of this fistula with the concurrent SAH and subdural hematoma (SDH), MMAE was performed to treat the dAVF. With the increasing use of cerebral angiography techniques such as MMAE and DSA for a broader range of indications, the incidence of incidentally and unexpectedly discovered dAVFs is expected to increase. Clinicians should become well-versed in recognizing this condition, treatment indications, and the various management options available, including endovascular embolization, radiosurgery, microsurgery, and serial monitoring.

Purpose: Occlusion of the distal internal carotid artery can simulate a proximal occlusion of its cervical tract on CT angiography in patients with acute ischemic stroke, that is, pseudo-occlusion. As true and false carotid occlusions can present similarly on non-invasive imaging in patients undergoing endovascular treatment for stroke, our study aimed to evaluate clinical and technical differences of these conditions and the possible consequences of a misdiagnosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke at a single center between July 2015 and May 2022 and included patients with absent opacification of the cervical carotid artery on CT-angiography. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) imaging and procedural data were evaluated to define the actual localization of the occlusion. We compared imaging and clinical data between patients with true and false carotid occlusion, including collateral circulation at CTA, revascularization grade, and clinical outcome at 3 months. Results: A total of 116 patients were included, 63 (54%) of whom had true occlusion of cervical internal carotid artery. Compared to the pseudo-occlusion group, collateral circulation at CTA was moderate to good in 75% of cases (vs 32%; p < 0.0001) and the mean ASPECT score at 24 h was 7 versus 2 (p < 0.0001). Modified Rankin scale 0-2 at 90 days was more frequent in patients with true occlusion than those with pseudo-occlusion (48 vs 11%; p = 0.0002). Conclusion: Pseudo-occlusion of the cervical internal carotid artery in patients with acute ischemic stroke appears to be associated with worst prognosis and poorer collateral circulation in comparison with tandem occlusion.

Recanalizing acute ischemic stroke with carotid tandem occlusion (CTO) is technically challenging because distal embolic migration during revascularization can significantly influence outcomes. In this study, we aimed to introduce our coaxial balloon technique using a balloon-guiding catheter (BCG), angioplasty catheter, and aspiration catheter sequentially to prevent thrombus migration to a new vascular territory. We used this technique for six patients with CTO. Technical success with good revascularization of the CTO was achieved in all six patients (100%) without neurological complications, including one and five cases of modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b and 3, respectively. The median duration of the procedure was 61 (interquartile range, 52-90) min. The mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at discharge was 3.5 (2-8), with favorable clinical outcomes at 90 days for three of six patients (50%). The coaxial balloon technique for CTO is safe and effective for revascularization in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Thrombectomy before proximal stenting was associated with shorter reperfusion times and better clinical outcomes. Therefore, this approach is recommended for tandem occlusions requiring stent angioplasty.

An adult patient was admitted to our emergency department for a first episode of generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed a temporal intracranial hemorrhage and parenchymal edema caused by a dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF), whose angioarchitecture was better understood through the DSA which showed as intriguing and rare vascular anomaly the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) from the middle meningeal artery (MMA). The endovascular treatment of the DAVF was then successfully performed.This case describes the first case of a PICA arising from the MMA in the literature and highlights as an accurate knowledge of vascular anatomy and its variations is essential for the endovascular treatment of the cerebrovascular diseases.

We describe a novel application of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) in neurovascular imaging by harnessing the improved spatial resolution, attenuation of electronic noise, and reduction of metal artifacts. The presented case offers the unique challenge of high-quality imaging for the assessment of treated and untreated intracranial saccular aneurysms, in the setting of metal artifacts from embolization coils. Our goal was to explore optimized reconstruction parameters for ultra-high-resolution imaging (UHR) using a dedicated, sharp neurovascular kernel (Hv72) and the highest strength of quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR-4) for detailed characterization of the vasculature. Virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) and iterative metal artifact reduction (IMAR) were employed to investigate metal artifact reduction techniques. PCD-CT has the promising potential to enhance patient care in the follow-up of patients with treated aneurysms requiring more complex imaging parameters and image post-processing due to intracranial artifacts.

Background and PurposeSuccessful and complete reperfusion should be the aim of every endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) procedure. However, the effect of time delays on successful reperfusion in late window stroke patients presenting 6-to-24 h from onset has not been investigated.Materials and MethodsWe pooled individual patient-level data from seven trials and registries for anterior circulation stroke patients treated with EVT between 6 and 24 h from onset. We explored the impact of delays across multiple interval times, including onset to hospital arrival; hospital arrival to arterial puncture; imaging to arterial puncture; and onset to arterial puncture. Our primary outcome was successful reperfusion, defined as a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2b-3. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between each of the interval times and successful reperfusion.ResultsWe included 608 patients. The median age was 70 years (IQR 58-79), and 307 (50.5%) were females. Successful reperfusion was achieved in 494 (81.2%) patients. Patients with successful reperfusion had lower NIHSS scores (median 15 [IQR11-19] vs 17 [11-21], p = .02) and significantly shorter hospital arrival to arterial puncture time (90 min [60-150] vs 110 min [84.5-150], p = .01) than unsuccessful reperfusion. The odds of successful reperfusion decreased by 15% for every one-hour delay in arrival-to-puncture time (adjusted odds ratio 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75-0.95). Other workflow times did not impact the rate of successful reperfusion.ConclusionFaster hospital arrival to arterial puncture time is associated with higher odds of successful reperfusion in late window stroke patients.