Fenestration of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery associated with carotid bifurcation aneurysm.

Fenestration of the internal carotid artery is extremely rare. The authors describe a fenestration at the supraclinoid portion of the left internal carotid artery revealed after subarachnoid hemorrhage from an ipsilateral carotid bifurcation aneurysm. This is the third reported case of fenestration of the intracranial internal carotid artery. Fenestrated cerebral vessels and their possible genesis and surgical management are discussed.     

Traumatic occlusion of the extracranial internal carotid artery. Report of two cases

Two cases of tapered occlusion of the unilateral internal carotid artery after head and facial injury are reported. The first was a 42-year-old male admitted because of left hemiparesis 3 hours after receiving blows to the face. Computed tomography (CT) scan obtained 10 hours after injury showed an area of slight low density in the right frontotemporal region. Carotid angiography demonstrated tapered occlusion of the right cervical internal carotid artery. A large cerebral infarction had developed in the right hemisphere and the patient died 10 days after the traumatic incident. The second case involved a 45-year-old male hospitalized with aphasia and right hemiparesis about 1 month after incurring a depressed fracture of the left temporal bone. CT revealed two small low-density areas in the left corona radiata, and carotid angiography disclosed tapered occlusion of the left cervical internal carotid artery. The neurological signs gradually improved after anticoagulant therapy. Early diagnosis of traumatic cervical carotid artery occlusion may be difficult in the absence of apparent cervical trauma with focal cerebral symptoms appearing after a lucid interval. No definitive management has been established and the prognosis is poor. It is emphasized that unusual neurological symptoms following head or cervical trauma should provoke suspicion of carotid artery injury, which, on diagnosis, should be promptly treated.     

Anterior thalamoperforating artery aneurysm associated with internal carotid artery occlusion: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We describe a rare case of a ruptured distal anterior thalamoperforating artery aneurysm associated with right internal carotid artery occlusion. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old woman experienced sudden occipital headache, vomiting, and subsequent coma as a result of massive intraventricular hemorrhage. An initial angiogram revealed only an occlusion of the right internal carotid artery just distal to the posterior communicating artery. Repeat angiography 1 month later, however, revealed a saccular aneurysm at a distal anterior thalamoperforating artery in addition to the occlusion of the internal carotid artery. INTERVENTION: We approached this aneurysm through the right temporal horn after opening the ambient cistern. The aneurysm, which was located in the brain parenchyma just medial to the temporal horn, was successfully resected. CONCLUSION: This rare aneurysm probably developed as a result of hemodynamic stress on the anterior thalamoperforating artery after occlusion of the internal carotid artery and/or secondary to chronic hypertension.     

Ruptured intracranial aneurysm associated with spontaneous occlusion of internal carotid artery

Summary Out of 921 patients diagnosed and treated for intracranial aneurysm in 5 cases (0,5%) the co-existence of ruptured aneurysm and occlusion of the internal carotid artery was found. 4 patients were treated surgically-aneurysm clipping-without serious post-operative complications and 6 months follow-up showed satisfactory results. In 4 of 5 cases the aneurysm was located on the anterior communicating artery (ACA); this fact may support the hypothesis concerning a possible role of enhanced blood flow in aneurysm formation and rupture. In cases with good collateral blood flow extra-/intracranial bypass before aneurysm occlusion seems not to be necessary. The risk of operation in those patients is not as high, as might be expected.     

A case of a basilar bifurcation aneurysm associated with common carotid artery occlusion

A case of a basilar bifurcation aneurysm associated with common carotid artery occlusion is reported. A 40-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with severe headache and nausea. On admission, no neurological abnormality was observed. CT scan showed thin subarachnoid hemorrhage in the basal cistern. Left vertebral angiograms revealed a basilar bifurcation aneurysm located in the high position. Also, the left internal and external carotid arteries were supplied through the anastomotic muscle branches of the left occipital and vertebral artery. The trunk of the left common carotid artery was not visualised from its origin on the aortogram. CT scan at the level of C6 showed thinning of the left common carotid artery and contrast enhancement study indicated occlusion. Neck clipping of the aneurysm was successfully performed by right trans-sylvian approach. Right zygomatic arch was removed to obtain a wider operative field for avoiding further retraction of the brain tissue. The postoperative course was uneventful except transient disorientation for two weeks. It has been well known that internal carotid artery occlusion may be associated with cerebral aneurysm in some cases. However, it seemed to be a rather rare case that the common carotid artery occlusion due to arteriosclerosis was associated with cerebral aneurysm. Hemodynamic factor was positively suggested for aneurysmal formation in this case.     

Two cases of spontaneous occlusion of the internal carotid artery due to a giant intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm

Although spontaneous thrombosis of a giant intracranial aneurysm is comparatively common, its parent artery occlusion is rare. Recently we experienced two cases in which spontaneous thrombosis of giant intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm and occlusion of its parent artery were occurred. Case 1. A 49-year-old man, complaining esotropia was referred to us by an ophthalmologist. He had no particular past history. Neurological examination revealed left oculomotor, abducens palsy and disturbance of left trigeminal first branch. CT scan revealed a round high density mass in the left middle fossa. The size was 3 cm in diameter. Left CAG revealed severe stenosis of left internal carotid artery and in delayed phase, faint shadow was seen near posterior clinoid process. MRI revealed a high intensity mass of the intraaneurysmal thrombus in the left middle fossa with small low intensity area indicating residual lumen. With conservative treatment, the symptom was gradually improved and one month after admission, complete occlusion of the left internal carotid artery was seen by angiography. The patient returned to his previous occupation. Case 2. A 21-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining dysarthria and left hemiparesis. He had been diagnosed as left internal carotid giant aneurysm 5 years before when he had suffered from right visual disturbance. Neurological examination revealed left hemiparesis and dysarthria. CT scan revealed high density mass which extended from the base of the right middle fossa to the third ventricle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm associated with extracranial occlusion of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery in a patient with polycystic kidney disease

We report a rare case with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) having an intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm associated with extracranial occlusion of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery. A 55-year-old man with chronic renal failure due to PKD presented with headache. CT scan and MRI showed no abnormal findings. MRA showed cervical occlusion of the right internal carotid artery and an ipsilateral intracranial carotid aneurysm. At surgery, the saccular aneurysm protruded anterolaterally at the C2 portion of the right internal carotid and was clipped. Hemodynamic stress of the blood flow through the posterior communicating artery and the fragility of arteries because of PKD were considered to be two main causes of aneurysmal formation in this case.     

A case of distal posterior cerebral artery aneurysm associated with occlusion of the internal carotid artery

Hemodynamic stress is considered one of the most important factors in the growth of cerebral aneurysms. The authors report a rare case of cerebral aneurysm located at the distal posterior cerebral artery (PCA) in which collateral circulation developed due to occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). A 73-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with a sudden headache and nausea. Computerized tomography (CT) revealed an intracerebral hematoma in the right parieto-occipital lobe and the acute subdural hematoma in both the cerebral interhemispheric fissure and the convexity. Moreover, angiography revealed a saccular aneurysm at the P4 portion of the PCA. The right ICA was occluded at the cervical portion and collateral circulation which had developed in the PCA was extended to the region of the right middle cerebral artery. The aneurysm was clipped 15 days after admission without new neurological complications. This case demonstrates that increased hemodynamic stress plays a role in the growth and rupture of cerebral aneurysm.     

Renal cell carcinoma associated with renal artery aneurysm. Report of two cases

2 cases of renal cell carcinoma associated with macroaneurysm of the renal artery are described. The association between these two lesions seems to be highly unusual, and its pathogenetic, diagnostic and surgical implications are discussed.     

Radiation injury involving the internal carotid artery. Report of two cases

Radiation therapy is an uncommon cause of stenosis and occlusions of the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA). We describe two cases of cerebral ischemia due to ICA stenosis in patients irradiated for malignant tumors (lymphoma and breast cancer). The first patient, a 32-year-old man, presented with an episode of cerebral ischemia. Six years previously he had received irradiation therapy for a left laterocervical mass histologically diagnosed at biopsy as a Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cerebral angiography on entry revealed bilateral occlusion of the cervical ICA, with a 2-cm stump at the origin of the left ICA. Despite anti-platelet aggregation therapy the ischemic attacks persisted, necessitating a stumpectomy. After vascular-repair surgery the patient had no further ischemic symptoms. The second patient, a 42-year-old woman, began to experience the sudden onset of pain in the right arm and left hemiparesis five years after surgery plus irradiation (4500 rad) for breast cancer, and three years after excision of a single cerebral metastasis. Cerebral angiography obtained on admission showed occlusion of the right ICA and right subclavian arteries, both lesions necessitating thrombectomy. After surgery the right radial pulse immediately re-appeared and the hemiparesis regressed. In both patients, 2-year follow-up assessment by Doppler ultrasonography and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) confirmed that the operated arteries remained patent. These two unusual cases underline the potential risk of irradiation-induced ischemic cerebrovascular symptoms, suggesting that patients who have received radiation therapy to the neck and mediastinum who survive for more than 5 years should undergo regular non-invasive imaging of neck vessels (Doppler ultrasonography and MRA).     

Raeder's syndrome associated with intracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm

Raeder's syndrome consists of oculosympathetic paresis and ipsilateral facial pain, with variable involvement of the trigeminal and oculomotor nerves. A 63-year-old woman experienced severe facial pain, a partial Horner's syndrome, and restriction of ocular movements on the left side. A left carotid angiogram disclosed a giant aneurysm of the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery. This is the third reported case of Raeder's syndrome due to aneurysm of the intracranial internal carotid artery. Her facial pain was relieved by carotid ligation, and serial computed tomographic scans showed decrease of aneurysmal size.     

Embolectomy for acute embolic occlusion of the internal carotid artery bifurcation

BACKGROUND: Acute occlusion of the distal intracranial segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) causes sudden severe hemispheric ischemia. A low rate of recanalization and a high mortality rate for this condition have been noted, even with endovascular treatment. METHODS: We report the results of emergency embolectomy in six patients with acute embolic occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) bifurcation. All six patients were admitted to our institute within 2 h of the onset of symptoms. Computed tomography (CT) scans on admission revealed no low-density or high-density regions in any patients. The time between onset of symptoms and completion of angiography ranged from 2 to 4 h (2.8 +/- 0.7 h). RESULTS: Emergency embolectomy was performed for each patient. Recanalization was confirmed angiographically in four of the patients. In the remaining two patients, massive infarction in the territory of the ICA was detected on the CT scans obtained the day of the operation, and postoperative angiography was not performed in these two cases. These two patients died of uncal herniation 6 days after onset. Two of the six patients were able to walk with a cane 2 months after surgery. The remaining two patients were unable to walk or attend to their own bodily needs without assistance. The time elapsed between onset of symptoms to reopening of the occluded vessel was within 6 h in the four surviving patients. The recanalization rate was 66.7% (4/6) for the embolectomy procedure, significantly higher than that (12.5%) of the thrombolytic therapy reported in a previous study. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, open embolectomy can be performed when the time after onset of symptoms is less than 6 h.     

A case of posterior cerebral artery aneurysm associated with idiopathic bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion: case report

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms of the posterior circulation are challenging lesions to neurosurgeons, despite improvements in microsurgical techniques and advances in skull base approaches. We present a rare case of a posterior cerebral artery (PCA)-posterior communicating artery (PcomA) junction aneurysm associated with bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion successfully treated with an endovascular procedure. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 57-year-old female presented with sudden onset of severe headache and loss of consciousness. CT scan showed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute hydrocephalus. The patient developed severe neurogenic pulmonary edema and shock. Although her neurogenic pulmonary edema did not resolve, she recovered from shock. However, her general condition was so critical and her vital signs so unstable, that direct surgery under general anesthesia was considered too risky. A cerebral angiogram showed complete occlusion of both internal carotid arteries without any Moyamoya vessels. A saccular aneurysm located at the right PCA-PcomA junction was seen. To obliterate the aneurysm and prevent rerupture, the patient underwent coil embolization via an endovascular approach under sedation with local anesthesia. The balloon remodeling technique was useful to prevent occlusion of parent arteries. Finally, four interlocking detachable coils (IDC) with a total length of 44 cm were used to completely obliterate the aneurysm using the balloon remodeling technique. The patient made a full recovery after treatment and the aneurysm remained obliterated 2 years after coil embolization. CONCLUSIONS: We emphasize the advantages of the endovascular approach for the patient in critical condition. We believe that this is the first report of a PCA-Pcom junction aneurysm associated with bilateral ICA occlusion without moyamoya disease.     

Fenestration of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery with associated aneurysm

A 42-year-old woman presented with a rare case of fenestration of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) with associated aneurysm manifesting as headache. Computed tomography (CT) found no abnormalities. Three-dimensional CT angiography showed fenestration of the left ICA with an associated aneurysm. Direct surgery was performed for the aneurysm, and the patient's postoperative course was uneventful. The present case of ICA fenestration associated with aneurysm indicates that surgical treatment should be considered for even small unruptured aneurysms arising from this location, because of the high risk of rupture.     

Extracranial internal carotid artery occlusion associated with ipsilateral cerebral glioblastoma

A case of left extracranial internal carotid artery occlusion, associated with ipsilateral parietal glioblastoma, is reported. The clinical and radiological aspects are discussed. The Authors stress the usefulness of a complete investigation in patients with symptoms of cerebrovascular insufficiency.