Coil embolization of unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms.
BACKGROUND
Since the International Subarachnoid Aneurysmal Trial, endovascular coiling has been increasingly used as primary treatment option for ruptured or unruptured aneurysms that are feasible for coiling.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and clinical and angiographic outcomes of coiling for unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms.


METHODS
The records of 70 consecutive patients with 76 unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms who underwent coiling were retrospectively evaluated.


RESULTS
Thirty-one aneurysms were treated by single-catheter, 18 by multicatheter, 11 by balloon-assisted, 13 by stent-assisted, and 3 by a combination of multicatheter and balloon-assisted techniques. Coiling was accomplished in 75 but failed in 1 aneurysm. One patient died of consequences of subarachnoid hemorrhage occurring 9 hours after coiling. One intraprocedural aneurysm rupture occurred, which was controlled by further coil insertions and left no sequelae. There were 1 cortical infarction and 1 basal ganglia infarction, both of which recovered completely. Treatment-related permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 0% and 1.4%, respectively. Postembolization control angiography revealed 40 complete, 30 neck remnant, and 5 incomplete occlusions. Clinical follow-up was available in all patients (mean, 25 months; range, 7-105 months). There was no subarachnoid hemorrhage during follow-up, but 1 death resulting from acute myocardial infarction occurred 3 months after coiling. None of the surviving patients had any neurological deterioration. Follow-up angiography was available in 69 aneurysms at 6 to 24 months (mean, 12 months). Three major and 6 minor recurrences were detected. All 3 major recurrent aneurysms were re-treated by coiling without any complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Most unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms could be safely treated by coiling with acceptable short-term to midterm outcomes. Our results warrant further study with a longer follow-up period in a larger population.
Department of Radiology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. bmoon21@hanmail.net
Byung Moon
BM
Kim
Dong Ik
DI
Kim
Sung Il
SI
Park
Dong Joon
DJ
Kim
Sang Hyun
SH
Suh
Yu Sam
YS
Won
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies