title: Illustrated Atlas of Post-AF Ablation Cerebral Abnormalities.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias and relates to high morbidity and mortality due to thromboembolic events, especially ischemic stroke. During the last 15 years, transcatheter ablation has emerged as an effective therapeutic option to treat AF but carries a risk of possible complications. The occurrence of cerebrovascular accidents, both symptomatic and silent, is one of the most frequent and severe. Transcatheter AF ablation entails a relevant risk of silent cerebral ischemia detected by means of magnetic resonance imaging, and many efforts have been directed to improve the safety of this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Corso A.M. Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy. Electronic address: fiorenzo.gaita@unito.it.
authors.forename: Fiorenzo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaita
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Via Zuretti, 29, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Consuelo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Corso A.M. Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corsinovi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Corso A.M. Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pianelli
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Corso A.M. Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castagno
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Cardinal Guglielmo Massaia Hospital, Corso Dante 202, 14100 Asti, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cesarani
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Cardinal Guglielmo Massaia Hospital, Corso Dante 202, 14100 Asti, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scaglione
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Atrial fibrillation transcatheter ablation; Cardioembolic risk; Cognitive decline; Magnetic resonance imaging; Silent cerebral ischemia