title: Stability of ruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with detachable coils: is delayed follow-up angiography warranted?
abstract: The optimal strategy for monitoring the stability of ruptured intracranial aneurysms following coil embolisation is unclear. The value of delayed follow-up angiography in detecting new recurrences or progression of residual lesions visualised on earlier angiographic studies was determined in the light of the increasing use of non-invasive imaging techniques such as time of flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA) for the evaluation of intracranial aneurysm occlusion. Ninety-seven patients with 105 ruptured aneurysms treated with detachable coils in 2005 and 2006 were included. The presence of a residual neck or aneurysm was assessed on catheter angiograms performed at 6 months and 2 years using the Raymond criteria (Class I = completely occluded, class II = small residual neck, class III = aneurysm sac filling). At 6-month follow-up, 32% of class I aneurysms progressed to class II and 6% of these aneurysms required re-treatment. A further 2-year angiogram was obtained in 59 patients with 65 aneurysms. Ninety-six per cent of class I, 100% of the class II and class III aneurysms remained unchanged at 2 years compared to 6 months. In our series, most recurrences were apparent at 6-month follow-up. The vast majority of coiled ruptured aneurysms that were class I or II at 6 months remained stable at 2-year follow-up. In the absence of a residual lesion in the early angiographic study, a further delayed catheter angiogram may not be warranted. The use of non-invasive strategies such as TOF-MRA should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Victor Horsley Department of Neurosurgery, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors.forename: Jignesh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tailor
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: Hoskote
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chandrashekar
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stephen
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schiariti
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grieve
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brew
authors.forename: Fergus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitchen
mesh_terms: D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome