Quantitative hemodynamic analysis of brain aneurysms at different locations.
OBJECTIVE
Studies have shown that the occurrence of brain aneurysms and risk of rupture vary between locations. However, the reason that aneurysms at different branches of the cerebral arteries have different clinical presentations is not clear. Because research has indicated that aneurysm hemodynamics may be one of the important factors related to aneurysm growth and rupture, our aim was to analyze and compare the flow parameters in aneurysms at different locations.


METHODS
A total of 24 patient-specific aneurysm models were constructed by using 3D rotational angiographic data for the hemodynamic simulation. Previously developed computational fluid dynamics software was applied to each aneurysm to simulate the blood-flow properties. Hemodynamic data at peak pulsatile flow were recorded, and wall shear stress (WSS) and flow rate in the aneurysms and parent arteries were quantitatively compared. To validate our method, a comparison with a previously reported technique was also performed.


RESULTS
WSS and flow rate in the aneurysms at the peak of the cardiac cycle were found to differ in magnitude between different locations. Multiple comparisons among locations showed higher WSS and flow rate in middle cerebral artery aneurysms and lower WSS and flow rate in basilar artery and anterior communicating artery aneurysms.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed changes in hemodynamic values that may be related to aneurysm location. Further study of aneurysm locations with a large number of cases is needed to test this hypothesis.
Chien
A
A
Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, 10833 LeConte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. aichi@ucla.edu
Castro
M A
MA
Tateshima
S
S
Sayre
J
J
Cebral
J
J
Viñuela
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D033081:Shear Strength; D055815:Young Adult