title: Endovascular treatment for superior cerebellar artery aneurysms: morphological features, technique, and outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superior cerebellar artery (SCA) aneurysms have distinctive morphologic configurations and vascular origins. Herein, we have analyzed the angioarchitectural characteristics of SCA aneurysms and outcomes achieved through endovascular treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data accruing prospectively from January, 2002 to September, 2013 yielded 53 SCA aneurysms in 53 patients. Each lesion was classified as either basilar artery (BA), BA-SCA, or SCA type, according to the nature of incorporated vasculature. Clinical and morphologic outcomes were assessed, with emphasis on technical aspects of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Angles formed by SCA and posterior cerebral artery were obtuse (124.8 ± 29.1°) on sides ipsilateral to aneurysms, differing significantly from contralateral counterparts (44.8 ± 22.0°) (p<0.001). The most common type of aneurysm was BA-SCA (54.7 %), followed by SCA (28.3 %) and BA (17.0 %), and BA type aneurysms were the largest in size. Steam-shaped S-configured microcatheters (n=19, 67.9 %) facilitated aneurysm selection for approach via contralateral vertebral artery (n=28), whereas pre-shaped 45/90/J microcatheters (n=21, 84.0 %) primarily were used for ipsilateral vertebral artery approach (n=25). Single-microcatheter technique (52.8 %) was most often applied, followed by double-microcatheter (34.0 %), stent-assisted (9.4 %), and microcatheter-protection techniques (3.8 %). Aneurysmal occlusion was satisfactorily achieved in 45 lesions (82.1 %), with no procedure-related morbidity and mortality. In follow-up monitoring of 46 patients for a mean period of 25.8 ± 24.4 months, only a single instance of major recanalization (2.2 %) occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coil embolization of SCA aneurysms is a safe and effective treatment modality, enabling individualized procedural strategies to accommodate distinctive angio-anatomic configurations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Stroke Center, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Dae
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seung Chai
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jun Hyong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Hyun-Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jeong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won-Sang
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Moon Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001488:Basilar Artery; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome