Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:The objective was to evaluate the trajectories of hematoma resolution and functional improvement after middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH), model the temporal pattern of cSDH resolution, and identify factors associated with favorable outcomes. METHODS:This real-world multicenter retrospective study included cSDH patients treated with MMAE at 24 centers between 2019 and 2024. Hematoma thickness was measured at baseline and at follow-up intervals (1-4 weeks, 1-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, and > 12 months after embolization). Resolution patterns were modeled using exponential decay functions. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores assessed functional outcomes. Good functional outcome was defined as mRS score ≤ 2. Resolution patterns were modeled using exponential decay functions to estimate time to 50% and 80% reduction. Patients were categorized as complete resolution (≥ 99%) or by quartile of the remaining distribution (substantial [73%-98%], moderate [53%-73%], partial [27%-53%], minimal [< 27%]). The primary outcome was good functional status (mRS score ≤ 2). RESULTS:The authors analyzed a total of 1781 patients with 2295 cSDHs who underwent MMAE. The mean ± SD age was 72.8 ± 12.4 years and 68.1% of patients were male. The initial mean hematoma thickness was 15.31 ± 6.53 mm, decreasing to 5.24 ± 5.91 mm at final follow-up (mean reduction 64.3% ± 42.1%). Resolution followed an exponential decay pattern, with an estimated time to 50% reduction of 1.8 months and to 80% reduction of 8.9 months. Complete resolution occurred in 1031 of 2224 patients (46.4%) with complete follow-up. The median (IQR) mRS score improved from 1 (0-3) at baseline to 0 (0-2) at > 12 months. Good functional outcomes were more common in patients with complete versus minimal resolution (68.9% vs 35.0%, p < 0.001). Achieving ≥ 73% resolution within 90 days was associated with better outcomes (good outcome in 76.9% of those with ≥ 73% resolution vs 67.3% in those without, p < 0.001). Neurological deterioration was the strongest predictor of lack of good outcome (23.7% in patients with neurological deterioration vs 82.4% without, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:After MMAE for cSDH, reduction in hematoma thickness follows a predictable exponential decay pattern. Greater extent (≥ 80%) and faster timing (within 90 days) of resolution are valuable prognostic indicators. Functional outcomes improve progressively through 6-12 months after the procedure. The relationship between resolution extent and functional outcomes provides quantitative benchmarks for evaluating treatment response.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Although the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is increasingly used for the treatment of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms, including in the acute rupture setting, comparative evidence assessing the impact of rupture status remains limited. This study compared angiographic, safety, and clinical outcomes between ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with WEB. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the multicenter cohort registry WorldWideWEB, including consecutive adult patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the WEB. Patients were stratified into groups of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics between both groups. Retreatment rate was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included mRS, safety events (thromboembolic complications) and angiographic outcomes (periprocedurally and last follow-up). RESULTS:Among 1,220 patients, 342 (28.0%) presented with ruptured aneurysms. Propensity-score-matched analyses revealed no significant difference in thromboembolic complications (11.8% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.056), similar periprocedural adequate occlusion (53.3% vs. 53.8%, p > 0.9), and similar retreatment rates (11.8% (95% CI 7.8-17.6%) vs. 7.1% (95% CI 4.1-12.0%), p = 0.14); however, adequate occlusion at follow-up was lower (82.2% vs. 93.3%, p = 0.002) and functional outcomes were worse (mRS ≥ 2 in 34.1% vs. 21.9%, p = 0.012) among patients with ruptured aneurysms. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Ruptured aneurysms demonstrated expected inferior follow-up functional and angiographic outcomes when compared with unruptured aneurysms, but no difference in retreatment rate and procedural safety. These findings support WEB as a safe and effective treatment option for appropriately selected ruptured intracranial aneurysms in routine clinical practice.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Traditionally treated with microsurgical clipping, the treatment preference for intracranial aneurysms has shifted towards endovascular coiling. However, the choice between endovascular coiling and microsurgical clipping as the primary treatment strategy for ruptured middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms remains disputed. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the radiological and clinical outcomes of ruptured MCA aneurysms treated with primary coiling and microsurgical clipping. METHODS:An extensive literature search was performed across PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases through August 2025. The primary outcomes of our study include the mRS scores at discharge and at long-term follow-up. Secondary outcomes include aneurysm occlusion post-procedurally or at discharge, and at long-term follow-up. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS:A total of 5 studies, involving 984 patients (coiling = 449, clipping = 535) were included. There are no significant differences in good functional outcome (mRS 0-2) among ruptured MCA aneurysms treated with either endovascular coiling or microsurgical clipping at discharge (RR: 1.04; CI: 0.93-1.18; p = 0.473) and long-term follow-up (RR: 1.07; CI: 0.95-1.20; p = 0.245), even though endovascular coiling is associated with lower rates of complete aneurysm occlusion at discharge (RR: 0.66; CI: 0.54-0.82; p < 0.001) and long-term follow-up (RR: 0.76; CI: 0.66-0.89; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Our meta-analysis suggests that while microsurgical clipping and primary coiling of ruptured MCA aneurysms had similar functional outcomes, clipping is associated with higher rates of complete aneurysm occlusion. Future studies with larger cohorts with prospective data, as well as studies that include more contemporary endovascular technologies and techniques, are warranted.

OBJECTIVE:To validate the carotid web (CW) risk stratification assessment described in previous works within a larger cohort of patients with symptomatic and incidentally found asymptomatic CWs. METHODS:A retrospective analysis of our institution's electronic medical records identified all patients with a diagnosis of CW from 2017 to 2024. We included symptomatic patients and those with asymptomatic CWs, that is, incidentally found webs without history of stroke or transient ischemic attack. Patient charts were reviewed for demographics, imaging, comorbidities, and a diagnosis of stroke after diagnosis of asymptomatic CW. All angles were measured as described in previous work on a sagittal reconstruction of neck CT angiography in which the common carotid artery (CCA), external carotid artery, and internal carotid artery (ICA) were well visualized, together with the CW itself. Principal component analysis and logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between high-risk angles and stroke risk.  RESULTS: Twenty-six symptomatic and 26 asymptomatic patients were identified. Of note, the number of patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and smoking history was 17 (65.0%), 16 (62.0%), and 8 (31.0%) for symptomatic patients and 18 (69.0%), 17 (65.0%), and 15 (58.0%) for asymptomatic patients. All angular measurements showed statistically significant associations with stroke status. The CCA-web-pouch angle showed the strongest association (p=2.07×10⁻⁴), followed by the CCA-pouch-tip angle (p=3.23×10⁻⁴), ICA-web-pouch angle (p=0.004), and ICA-pouch-tip angle (p=0.005). Each additional high-risk angle increased the odds of stroke by 9.47-fold (p<0.0001). The associated probability of stroke increased from 6.3% with no high-risk angles to 39.1% with one high-risk angle and further to 85.9% with two high-risk angles. The model demonstrated high sensitivity, correctly identifying 84.6% of positive cases, and high specificity, correctly identifying 88.5% of negative cases. The F1 score was 0.863, indicating good overall model performance.  CONCLUSION: Given this successful stratification of CWs into high- and low-risk groups, the utilization of geometric CW parameters may play a role in improving patient selection for intervention in the setting of incidentally diagnosed CW. .

BACKGROUND:Flow diversion is effective for unruptured distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms, yet comparative data between the Silk Vista Baby (SVB) and Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) in this challenging territory remain scarce. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective multicenter study using the CRETA Registry, including consecutive patients with unruptured DACA aneurysms treated with SVB or PED. The primary endpoint was complete angiographic occlusion (O'Kelly-Marotta grade D). Secondary outcomes included procedural characteristics, clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale), and complications. Overlap weighting was applied to account for non-randomized treatment allocation. Predictors of occlusion were explored using penalized logistic regression. A sensitivity analysis using a reduced five-variable model was performed to assess model robustness. RESULTS:137 patients were included (79 SVB, 58 PED). Within the PED group, devices included Pipeline Flex (n = 34), Pipeline Flex with Shield Technology (n = 14), and Pipeline Vantage with Shield Technology (n = 10). After overlap weighting, baseline characteristics were balanced; the effective sample size was 100.4. SVB procedures more often used a single device; PED frequently required multiple stents. Procedure duration was shorter with SVB. Complete occlusion was achieved in 69.6% (SVB) and 70.7% (PED) of aneurysms, with no significant difference in adjusted analysis (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.59-2.96). Favorable clinical outcomes were observed in both groups, with acceptable and comparable complication rates. No variable, including device type, independently predicted complete occlusion, a finding confirmed in a reduced five-variable sensitivity analysis (aOR 1.04, 95% CI 0.47-2.31; p = 0.915). CONCLUSIONS:SVB and PED demonstrated comparable angiographic efficacy and clinical safety for unruptured DACA aneurysms. Despite procedural differences, mid-term occlusion rates and outcomes were similar. Device selection in this distal territory may be guided primarily by anatomical considerations and operator preference rather than expectations of differential performance.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Carotid webs are an underrecognized cause of ischemic stroke in young adults and are associated with a high risk of recurrence when managed with medical therapy alone. Although carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is increasingly performed, histopathological confirmation remains infrequently reported, and the underlying pathological substrate of symptomatic carotid webs is not well defined. In this study, we present the largest pathologically confirmed series of symptomatic carotid webs treated with CEA, providing a comprehensive clinicopathological characterization and evaluation of long-term surgical outcomes. METHODS:Patients with symptomatic carotid webs were retrospectively identified from institutional databases encompassing both inpatient and outpatient encounters. Clinical features, imaging characteristics, surgical findings, and histopathological results from CEA specimens are presented. RESULTS:Among 39 patients with symptomatic carotid web, 34 underwent CEA with histopathological confirmation of the diagnosis, characterized by focal eccentric intimal fibromyxoid tissue, fibromuscular dysplasia, hyperplasia, or thickening. Notably, concurrent atheromatous changes were noted in 6 patients. All webs were located within 3 cm of the carotid bifurcation, and most (76%) were localized on the posterior wall. Competing stroke mechanisms were identified in 15% of patients. Two-thirds of patients presented with a large or medium vessel occlusion and over half received acute reperfusion therapy (intravenous thrombolysis and/or mechanical thrombectomy). Two patients experienced transient, minor cranial nerves injuries (hypoglossal nerve and marginal mandibular branch) after CEA. At a median follow-up of 29 months, no patients experienced recurrent stroke (95% CI: 0%-10%), and the median modified Rankin Scale score was 1 (0-1). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This study supports CEA as a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients with symptomatic carotid webs and demonstrates its diagnostic value through direct histopathological confirmation. By presenting the largest pathologically validated series to date, our findings further define the vascular pathology underlying carotid webs and underscore the diagnostic value of surgical resection for definitive diagnosis.

BACKGROUND:The Drivewire 24 (DW24) is a newly FDA-cleared 0.024 inch steerable guidewire. Its proximally controlled deflectable tip allows for intravascular steering to facilitate selective navigation of diagnostic or therapeutic catheters. We present the first clinical experience with the DW24. METHODS:All neurointerventional procedures using the DW24 from October 2024 to April 2025 were retrospectively reviewed. Indications, procedural details, DW24 performance, wire-related complications, and operator feedback were assessed. RESULTS:27 procedures were performed utilizing the DW24. Indications included aneurysm (n=16), stroke (n=5), arteriovenous fistula or malformation (n=4), and diagnostic venography (n=2). Technical success was achieved in 92.6% of cases. Target vessels included the MCA, anterior cerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery, internal carotid artery segments, transverse sinus, and torcula. The device's radiopaque, hydrophilic distal tip aided fluoroscopic visibility, and the variable support enabled articulation across a range of aspiration and delivery catheters without requiring additional support devices. The DW24's steerability enabled access to challenging cerebrovascular anatomy, including one stroke case where conventional guidewires failed to reach a distal M2 occlusion. The DW24's intravascular steering also allowed for the delivery of catheters for Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) deployment and facilitated PED post-processing to improve wall apposition without requiring wire removal, reshaping, or balloon angioplasty. Operators observed a short learning curve. There were no device-related complications, though the wire's response to rotational force was a limitation. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The DW24 demonstrated a high technical success rate with no device-related complications. Its versatility across catheter sizes and precise controllability facilitate navigating complex cerebrovasculature. Further studies should assess efficacy in larger cohorts across additional clinical scenarios.

BACKGROUND:Venous anatomical variants are common and generally considered normal. However, growing recognition of cerebral venous disorders (CVD) in neurological disease has prompted renewed interest in venous architecture, especially with increasing use of the internal jugular vein (IJV) as a target for outflow augmentation. Establishing baseline data on venous stenosis prevalence in an unselected population is critical for future research. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of IJV stenoses in patients undergoing neck CT angiography for unrelated indications. METHODS:We conducted a multicenter, retrospective study analyzing the venous anatomy of patients who underwent CT angiography for unrelated conditions, primarily large vessel occlusion. Stenosis was graded based on the percentage of lumen narrowing with a NASCET-style methodology, and the relationship between IJV stenosis severity and suboccipital collateral drainage was evaluated. Consecutive CT angiograms of patient were queried to map anatomical features. RESULTS:68% of the 679 total patients exhibited some degree of IJV stenosis. Severe unilateral stenosis (≥51%) was present in approximately 21% of patients, while complete or near-complete occlusion was uncommon at 8%. Bilateral high-grade stenosis was noted in 18% of patients for >50% stenosis and in only 2% of patients for >75% stenosis. A greater degree of stenosis correlated with increased suboccipital collateral vein diameter (p = 0.0025). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:IJV stenosis is common on CT angiography performed for non-venous indications with a correlation between the degree of stenosis and suboccipital collateral vein diameter. The clinical significance of these findings and its possible contribution to CVD requires further prospective investigation.

Data on the use of Woven EndoBridge (WEB) devices in the treatment of narrow-neck intracranial aneurysms (NNA) are limited. We compared the efficacy and safety of single-layer (SL) and single-layer spherical (SLS) WEB devices in treating NNA. We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of adult patients with NNA (neck ≤ 4 mm and width-to-neck ratio ≥ 2) treated with SL or SLS WEB devices between January 2011 and December 2022. Patients with fusiform or blister aneurysms, adjunctive treatments, or devices other than SL or SLS were excluded. Propensity score matching was used to adjust for confounding variables. Outcomes included procedural complications, angiographic occlusion rates using the Raymond Roy classification, major device compaction, need for retreatment, and functional outcomes assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). After matching, resulting in 101 patients in each group, baseline characteristics were well-balanced. Thromboembolic complications occurred in 2.0% of the SLS group and 5.9% of the SL group (P = 0.28). Hemorrhagic complications occurred in 1.0% of the SLS group and 6.4% of the SL group (P = 0.062). Adequate occlusion rates (Raymond Roy grades I and II) were similar between groups (96% in SLS vs. 91% in SL; P = 0.20). Major device compaction was significantly less frequent in the SLS group compared to the SL group (0% vs. 7.6%; P = 0.024). The need for retreatment trended to be lower in the SLS group (1.1% vs. 6.6% in SL; P = 0.12). Functional outcomes (mRS 0–1) at last follow-up were comparable (82% in SLS vs. 86% in SL; P = 0.41). In the treatment of narrow-neck intracranial aneurysms, the SLS WEB device was associated with significantly lower rates of major device compaction compared to the SL device. Reduced compaction may lead to a lower need for retreatment. Overall imaging outcomes and safety profiles were similar between the two devices.

BACKGROUND:The RESCUE-ICAS study (Registry of Emergent Large-Vessel Occlusion due to Intracranial Stenosis) demonstrated that patients undergoing acute stenting of intracranial atherosclerosis with large-vessel occlusion after mechanical thrombectomy had better outcomes than those undergoing mechanical thrombectomy alone. We present 2 secondary analyses of RESCUE-ICAS to evaluate intracranial stenting among patients who achieved successful reperfusion. METHODS:From a prospective observational cohort of 25 stroke centers (2022-2023), patients with acute intracranial occlusion, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥6, and 50% to 99% residual stenosis or occlusion after endovascular thrombectomy were included. In the first analysis, we compared patients with stenting versus those without stenting from among those patients with a final modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 2B-3. In the second analysis, we compared patients who underwent stenting with those who did not from among the patients with a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score of 2B-3 before stenting. The odds of a favorable 90-day mRS (0-2) and 24-hour MRI infarct volume <30 mL were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. We also examined the rates of symptomatic ICH and death at 90 days in these cohorts. RESULTS:=0.480). CONCLUSIONS:Among both the cohort with final successful reperfusion and the cohort with initial successful reperfusion after mechanical thrombectomy alone, intracranial stenting was associated with better long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes, without higher morbidity and mortality. REGISTRATION/BACKGROUND:URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05403593.