Delayed Stenosis in the Intracranial Vessels following Endovascular Treatment for Acute Stroke

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate delayed stenosis of the vessels after endovascular thrombectomy using magnetic resonance (MR) angiography. Materials and MethodsOf 82 consecutive patients who underwent successful endovascular treatment for acute intracranial large vessel occlusion between October 2010 and October 2014 at a single institution, 57 patients for whom 3-month radiologic follow-up examinations using MR angiography were available were included in the analysis. MR angiography images were assessed to detect delayed stenosis, which was defined as a decrease in the diameter of treated vessels > 50% compared with MR angiography images obtained 24 hours after endovascular treatment. ResultsMR angiography images obtained 3 months after endovascular treatment revealed delayed stenosis of treated vessels in five (8.8%) of 57 patients. All cases of delayed stenosis were asymptomatic and occurred in the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Further serial radiologic follow-up showed gradual improvement of all delayed stenosis over 12 months. ConclusionsEndovascular treatment poses a risk of delayed stenosis of treated vessels, especially in the MCA. MR angiography is a useful modality in long-term follow-up to evaluate delayed stenosis after endovascular treatment.