title: In vitro and in vivo imaging characteristics assessment of polymeric coils compared with standard platinum coils for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Conventional platinum coils cause imaging artifacts that reduce imaging quality and therefore impair imaging interpretation on intraprocedural or noninvasive follow-up imaging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate imaging characteristics and artifact production of polymeric coils compared with standard platinum coils in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polymeric coils and standard platinum coils were evaluated in vitro with the use of 2 identical silicon aneurysm models coiled with a packing attenuation of 20% each. DSA, flat panel CT, CT, and MR imaging were performed. In vivo evaluation of imaging characteristics of polymeric coils was performed in experimentally created rabbit carotid bifurcation aneurysms. DSA, CT/CTA, and MR imaging were performed after endovascular treatment of the aneurysms. Images were evaluated regarding visibility of individual coils, coil mass, artifact production, and visibility of residual flow within the aneurysm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, in vitro and in vivo imaging showed relevantly reduced artifact production of polymeric coils in all imaging modalities compared with standard platinum coils. Image quality of CT and MR imaging was improved with the use of polymeric coils, which permitted enhanced depiction of individual coil loops and residual aneurysm lumen as well as the peri-aneurysmal area. Remarkably, CT images demonstrated considerably improved image quality with only minor artifacts compared with standard coils. On DSA, polymeric coils showed transparency and allowed visualization of superimposed vessel structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This initial experimental study showed improved imaging quality with the use of polymeric coils compared with standard platinum coils in all imaging modalities. This might be advantageous for improved intraprocedural imaging for the detection of complications and posttreatment noninvasive follow-up imaging.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mordasini
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kraehenbuehl
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandenberghe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reinert
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gralla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D010984:Platinum; D011108:Polymers; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D010984:Platinum