Intracranial aneurysms treated with Guglielmi detachable coils: long-term imaging follow-up with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the long-term results of intracranial aneurysms treated with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) with the aid of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.


METHODS
Between January 1998 and August 2001, 92 patients with 92 aneurysms treated by endovascular coiling with GDCs underwent contrast-enhanced MR angiography. These patients underwent long-term follow-up (range 32-78 months, mean 42.1 +/- 11.9 months [standard deviation]) after endovascular treatment. All images were compared with digital subtraction angiograms and contrast-enhanced MR angiograms that had been obtained during the short-term follow-up (range 5-25 months, mean 13 +/- 5.1 months after treatment). The MR angiograms were analyzed independently by 2 senior radiologists. Findings were assigned to 1 of 3 categories: complete obliteration (Class 1), residual neck (Class 2), or residual aneurysm (Class 3).


RESULTS
Of 92 contrast-enhanced MR angiograms obtained at the long-term follow-up, complete obliteration of the aneurysm was noted in 57 patients (Class 1), a residual neck was seen in 22 (Class 2), and a residual aneurysm was observed in 13 (Class 3). One patient experienced aneurysm rehemorrhaging during the follow-up period. The comparison of short- and long-term follow-up angiograms demonstrated a change in aneurysm classification in 7 patients (7.6%), including 4 that progressed from Class 1 to Class 2 and 3 from Class 2 to Class 3. However, 4 (14.2%) of the 28 long-term recurrences were not detected on the short-term control images.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term follow-up with contrast-enhanced MR angiography after selective embolization of intracranial aneurysms can identify late aneurysm recanalization that is undetected at short-term follow-up.
Gauvrit
Jean-Yves
JY
Department of Neuroradiology and Equipe d'Accueil 2691, Hôpital Roger Salengro, University Hospital Lille, France. jygauvrit@chru-lille.fr
Caron
Sabine
S
Taschner
Christian A
CA
Lejeune
Jean-Paul
JP
Pruvo
Jean-Pierre
JP
Leclerc
Xavier
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017130:Angioplasty; D003287:Contrast Media; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA