Quantifying the large-scale hemodynamics of intracranial aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE
Hemodynamics play an important role in the mechanisms that govern the initiation, growth, and possible rupture of intracranial aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to objectively characterize these dynamics, classify them, and connect them to aneurysm rupture.


METHODS
Image-based computational fluid dynamic simulations were used to re-create the hemodynamics of 210 patient-specific intracranial aneurysm geometries. The hemodynamics were then classified according to their spatial complexity and temporal stability by using quantities derived from vortex core lines and proper orthogonal decomposition.


RESULTS
The quantitative classification was compared with a previous qualitative classification performed by visual inspection. Receiver operating characteristic curves provided area-under-the-curve estimates for spatial complexity (0.905) and temporal stability (0.85) to show that the 2 classifications were in agreement. Statistically significant differences were observed in the quantities describing the hemodynamics of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Specifically, ruptured aneurysms had more complex and more unstable flow patterns than unruptured aneurysms. Spatial complexity was more strongly associated with rupture than temporal stability.


CONCLUSIONS
Complex-unstable blood flow dynamics characterized by longer core line length and higher entropy could induce biologic processes that predispose an aneurysm for rupture.
From the Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.
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D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011859:Radiography