Volume 21, Issue 1 pp. 56-61
Neurointerventional Reports

Endovascular Treatment of Atypical Posterior Circulation Aneurysms: Technical Results and Review of the Literature

Brian T. Jankowitz MD

Brian T. Jankowitz MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Aitziber Aleu MD

Aitziber Aleu MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Ridwan Lin MD

Ridwan Lin MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Dean Kostov MD

Dean Kostov MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Ajith J. Thomas MD

Ajith J. Thomas MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Rishi Gupta MD

Rishi Gupta MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Nirav Vora MD

Nirav Vora MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Kim Seong R MD

Kim Seong R MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Narendra Panapitiya BS

Narendra Panapitiya BS

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Tudor Jovin MD

Tudor Jovin MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
Michael Horowitz MD

Michael Horowitz MD

From the Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA (AA, RL, TJ); Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (AJT); Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (RG); Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MS (NV); Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (BTJ, DK, KSR, NP, MH).

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 28 December 2010
Citations: 10
Correspondence: Address correspondence to Michael B. Horowitz, MD, Department of Neurosurgery, Minimally Invasive endoNeurosurgery Center, 200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. E-mail: [email protected]

Funding Sources: Michael Horowitz received an unrestricted educational grant from ev3. We have no other commercial or financial associations to disclose.

J Neuroimaging 2011;21:56-61.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

We report our technical success and complication rates in treating posterior circulation aneurysms at sites other than the basilar apex, superior cerebellar artery origin, or the posterior inferior cerebellar artery origin via endovascular embolization or sacrifice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed case records for patients undergoing coil embolization of atypical posterior circulation aneurysms from January 2003 to December 2007.

RESULTS

Thirty-two aneurysms in 32 patients were treated. Twenty-one patients (65%) presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Twenty-two aneurysms were treated with coiling alone, 9 with stent-assisted coiling, and 1 with a combination of Onyx plus stent-assisted coiling. Twelve aneurysms were treated with vessel sacrifice. Immediately post procedure, 27/32 aneurysms (84%) were considered successfully treated, resulting in either vessel sacrifice, complete obliteration, or minimal neck remnant. Sixteen of 19 patients (84%) were considered successfully treated at a mean angiographic follow up of 8 months. The procedural morbidity and mortality was 15% and 6% respectively.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular embolization remains a viable and durable method of treatment for atypical posterior circulation aneurysms.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.