Two angiographic instances of anomalous external carotid artery (ECA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) anastomosis are described, each occurring at the C2-3 level and bearing remnants of proximal ICA. The ICA remnant of one patient (identifiable immediately upon bifurcation of the common carotid artery) was hypoplastic, and that of the other patient was an occluded arterial stump. These features are not typical of non-bifurcating ICA. The occipital artery originated from an anomalous connection in one instance and from the main trunk of the ECA (just past the ECA-ICA connection) in the other.
Adult ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases/radiography ; Carotid Artery, External/*abnormalities/radiography/surgery ; Carotid Artery, Internal/*abnormalities/radiography/surgery ; Cerebral Angiography ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*radiography/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

Simultaneous occurrence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is very rare and only two cases have been previously reported in the literatures. We present a case of 68-yr-old man with a history of untreated hypertension, who suffered from sudden onset of headache followed by right hemiparesis. Computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed SAH in the basal cistern and remote ICH at the left putamen. Cerebral angiography showed a saccular aneurysm at the anterior communicating artery. No other vascular anomaly could be found at left putaminal area. Nine days after the ictal attack of SAH, the neck of aneurysm was clipped via the left frontotemporal craniotomy. Because of the ICH at the left frontal lobe and intraventricular hematoma on postoperative CT, we performed hematoma removal and external ventricular drainage 3 hours after the first operation. Postoperative neurological status had been improved to be drowsy and he was discharged in a severely disabled state 4 weeks after surgery. We suggest that the rupture of aneurysm possibly caused a rapid increase in blood pressure and subsequently resulted in hypertensive ICH.
Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Carotid Arteries/radiography ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Male ; Putaminal Hemorrhage/*complications/radiography/surgery ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/*etiology/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the imaging features, diagnosis and treatment strategies of intracranial lageniform aneurysms.

METHODSThe clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of 6 patients with intracranial lageniform aneurysms were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSAll the 6 aneurysms, including 5 anterior communicating artery aneurysms and 1 middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm, were diagnosed by CT, DSA and (or) MRA. Pretreatment CT revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracranial hematoma surrounding the ruptured aneurysm. Three dimensional DSA showed that all the lageniform aneurysms contained two parts, the larger false aneurysm and the smaller true aneurysms. All the 5 Acom aneurysms were coiled and the MCA aneurysm was clipped. Two patients with coiling developed serious brain edema, and acute decompressive craniectomy was performed to 1 of them. Pathological examination of the surgical specimens confirmed that pseudoaneurysm formed the larger part of the lageniform aneurysm. One patient died of brain hernia, and the other 5 patients were discharged with good GOS. All the patients showed stable neurological status during the 3-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONLageniform aneurysm is a complex aneurysm consisting in larger part of false aneurysm and in smaller part of true aneurysm, and early intervention with individualized surgeries is recommended.

Adult ; Aneurysm, False ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo simulate the surgical approaches for intracranial aneurysms using three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA) and assess the value of 3D-CTA in early microneurosurgery for ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

METHODSForty-eight patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured intracranial aneurysm were confirmed by early operation. All the patients were classified according to Hunt-Hess, including 11 of grade I, 29 of grade II, and 8 of grade III. CTA was performed before the operation and surgical simulation was conducted. The preoperative findings on CTA and the intraoperative findings were compared and the clinical value of cerebral 3D-CTA was analyzed.

RESULTSPre-operative 3D-CTA clearly displayed the location, size and shape of the aneurysms, the axis direction of the aneurysm apex and the width of aneurysm neck. The spatial relation between the parent aneutysm artery, the aneurysm, the peripheral vessels and the bony structures were also demonstrated. These findings were basically consistent with the intraoperative findings. The Glasgow outcome score was 5 in 41 patients, 4 in 4 patients, 3 in 2 patients, and 2 in 1 patient upon discharge from the hospital.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative 3D-CTA examination can simulate the surgery for ruptured aneurysms to help improve the surgical success rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Cerebral Angiography ; methods ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Interventional ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVE: Described herein is a microcatheter looping technique to facilitate aneurysm selection in paraclinoid aneurysms, which remains to be technically challenging due to the inherent complexity of regional anatomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was waived. Microcatheter looping method was employed in 59 patients with paraclinoid aneurysms between January 2012 and December 2013. In the described technique, construction of a microcatheter loop, which is steam-shaped or pre-shaped, based on the direction of aneurysms, is mandatory. The looped tip of microcatheter was advanced into distal internal carotid artery and positioned atop the target aneurysm. By steering the loop (via inner microguidewire) into the dome of aneurysm and easing tension on the microcatheter, the aneurysm was selected. Clinical and morphologic outcomes were assessed with emphasis on technical aspects of the treatment. RESULTS: Through this looping technique, a total of 59 paraclinoid aneurysms were successfully treated. After aneurysm selection as described, single microcatheter technique (n = 25) was most commonly used to facilitate coiling, followed by balloon protection (n = 21), stent protection (n = 7), multiple microcatheters (n = 3), and stent/balloon combination (n = 3). Satisfactory aneurysmal occlusion was achieved through coil embolization in 44 lesions (74.6%). During follow-up of 53 patients (mean interval, 10.9 +/- 5.9 months), only one instance (1.9%) of major recanalization was observed. There were no complications related to microcatheter looping. CONCLUSION: This microcatheter looping method facilitates safe and effective positioning of microcatheter into domes of paraclinoid aneurysms during coil embolization when other traditional microcatheter selection methods otherwise fail.
Adult ; Carotid Artery, Internal/radiography/*surgery ; Catheterization/methods ; Cerebral Angiography/methods ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents