title: Stent-assisted embolization of 100 middle cerebral artery aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The introduction of intracranial stents to aneurysm treatment allows endovascular repair of nearly all aneurysms, but the safety and durability of stent-assisted embolization of middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one patients with 100 complex MCA aneurysms not amenable to simple coiling were treated with stent-assisted embolization as a first option. Technical and clinical results, initial follow-up imaging, and long-term annual MR angiography (MRA) were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intracranial stents were successfully deployed in all 100 aneurysms. There was 1 case of significant neurological morbidity (1%) and 1 case of death (1%) related to treatment. Initial posttreatment angiography revealed complete occlusion of 48 aneurysms (48%), a residual neck in 21 (21%), and residual aneurysm filling in 31 (31%). Follow-up imaging performed in 85 (90.4%) of a possible 94 aneurysms showed complete occlusion of 77 aneurysms (90.6%), residual neck in 3 (3.5%), and residual filling in 5 (5.9%). Four aneurysms (4.7%) required retreatment. Long-term MRA follow-up revealed stability or progressive thrombosis in 47 (97.9%) of 48 aneurysms. In 11 patients Y-configuration stenting caused only 1 minor complication and provided durable occlusion in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stent-assisted techniques increase the number of aneurysms that may be treated endovascularly and represent an acceptable alternative to craniotomy. Stents provided adequate vessel reconstruction, low complication rates, and good long-term occlusion.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
authors: Andrew K
authors: AK
authors: Johnson
authors: Daniel M
authors: DM
authors: Heiferman
authors: Demetrius K
authors: DK
authors: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome