Carotid Artery Angiography Research Articles

Angiographic follow-up of infants and children undergoing percutaneous carotid artery interventions.

The purpose of this study was to review the outcomes following the percutaneous carotid arterial (PCA) approach in infants and children with congenital heart disease. PCA access is becoming more commonly adopted following reports demonstrating it is a safe alternative to surgical carotid cutdown and even the femoral arterial route. However, follow-up outcomes after PCA remain unreported. We reviewed all cases with PCA access and follow-up catheterizations which included carotid artery (CA) angiography between May 2012 until December 2016. We examined for evidence of CA stenosis at follow-up angiography and assessed any other CA complications associated with vascular access. There were 61 PCA catheterizations performed in 55 unique patients. Follow-up CA imaging with angiography was available in 43 patients (78%, 43/55). There was no vessel stenosis nor lumen irregularity in 28 (65%) patients. In 15 cases (35%), there was a mild degree of irregularity or narrowing by angiography (median 4.1%, range 2.3%-12.5%). Nine patients underwent repeat PCA catheterizations. Seven of these had no visible vascular stenosis on follow-up angiographic imaging, including a patient who was accessed three separate times from the CA. No statistically significant risk factors for developing mild CA stenosis were identified. PCA access for pediatric interventional catheterization appears to be safe with a very low rate of mild stenosis, and very few complications. Follow-up outcomes in our series are excellent, with a CA patency rate of 100%, even after multiple procedures. Mild CA stenosis was not associated with patient size or sheath introducer caliber. While the acute results from percutaneous CA catheterization have proven safe in recent literature, longer-term outcomes remain unreported. At our institution, the outcomes following percutaneous carotid access are associated with an excellent patency rate of 100%, even after multiple procedures on the same vessel. A low incidence of mild vessel stenosis can be appreciated on follow-up angiography.

Primarna mitralna regurgitacija - ehokardiografska procena

In developed countries aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common acquired valvular heart disease in elder population. A 75 years old patient has been admitted to our institution due to symptomatic severe AS. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography confirmed severe, calcified AS with a gradients of 95/49 mmHg, AVA 0.5 cm2 and moderate aortic regurgitation. Left ventricular ejection fraction was preserved. Preoperative coronary angiography and Duplex scan of carotid arteries excluded significant stenosis. Surgical risk assessed with EuroScore II was increased 5.9%. In the presence of restricted mobility, significant frailty and other circumstances that may affect the rehabilitation, TAVI as an intervention mode would have been more suitable. Since this was not available, our patient underwent successful surgical aortic valve replacement. The first postoperative echocardiogram revealed normal function of the bileaflet mechanical valve 29/14mmHg with mild transvalvular regurgitation. Without any prior psychiatric disorders, patient after the operation experienced complete lack of energy and willingness to cooperate or to perform any daily activity so she remained immobile. The antidepressives were ineffective. The rehabilitation process was complicated with decubitus and Acinetobacter and Proteus mirrabilis in wound culture. After antibiotic treatment we had the appearance of diarrhea, severe hypoalbuminaemia and the global edemas progressed to anasarca This three months long and costly struggle of all cardiovascular practitioners and family unfortunately was unsuccessful. This case is one more confirmation that we need objective frailty assessment, as one of major risk factors in elderly with AS, before making definitive decision of interventional, either surgical or transcatheter treatment.

Clinical Significance of Intraluminal Contrast Enhancement in Patients with Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection: ABlack-Blood MRI Study.

Purpose Recent studies have suggested that intraluminal thrombi show contrast enhancement on carotid black-blood T1w MRI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of intraluminal contrast enhancement (iCE) regarding symptom status in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD). Methods 33 consecutive patients (19 men) with sCAD received a brain MRI (DIFF, T2w, T2*w, FLAIR) and a multi-sequence 3T-MRI with fat-saturated high-resolution black-blood T1w-sequences pre- and post-contrast, contrast-enhanced MR angiography and TOF images of carotid and vertebral arteries. Presence/absence of iCE, vessel occlusion and vessel wall hematoma (hyperintense in T1w pre-contrast) were analysed by two radiologists in consensus decision. Results 44 of 132 analysed vessels had a vessel wall hematoma, consistent with sCAD. In 17 of 44 dissected vessels an acute ischemic stroke was found. 16 of 17 (94.1 %) vessels ipsilateral to ischemic stroke demonstrated iCE, compared to 9 of 44 (20.4 %) dissected vessels without stroke (P< 0.001). The presence/absence of iCE resulted ina sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and accuracy for ischemic stroke of 0.94, 0.67, 0.64, 0.95, and 0.77, respectively, and an odds ratio of 32.0. Conclusion iCE, which is suggestive of intraluminal thrombus formation, is strongly correlated with ischemic symptoms in patients with sCAD. Key points · Intraluminal contrast enhancement is associated with cerebral ischemia in corresponding vessel territories in patients with cervical artery dissection.. · Our results suggest that intraluminal contrast enhancement represents intraluminal thrombus formation.. · Black-blood imaging might be useful to identify those patients with cervical artery dissection at higher risk for initial or recurrent stroke.. Citation Format · Coppenrath E, Lenz O, Sommer N et al. Clinical Significance of Intraluminal Contrast Enhancement in Patients with Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection: A Black-Blood MRI Study. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2017; 189: 624 - 631.

The research of color-coded digital subtraction angiography in the normal cerebral hemodynamic parameters

Objective To investigate the value of color-coded digital subtraction angiography (iFlow) in the study of normal cerebral hemodynamic parameters, so as to set up parameter for normal cerebral hemodynamic. Methods From march 2013 to september 2016, We retrospectively analyze a total of 60 patients in wuhan general hospital of PLA. These patients were reexamined with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) due to follow-up for postembolization with aneurysms by naked coins, and were suspected as intracranial vascular diseases with normal angiography findings in DSA. In order to measure the time to peak (TTP) of contrast medium in region of interest (ROI). we set the ROI at these rigion: ROI-1: internal carotid artery bifurcation; ROI-2: cerebral middle artery bifurcation; ROI-3: the middle of superior sagittal sinus; ROI-4: torcular herophili area; ROI-5: the end of basilar artery. Results The TTPs of ROI-1 to ROI-4 in left internal carotid artery angiography and ROI-5 in left vertebral artery angiography are (2.70±0.37), (2.85±0.36), (7.98±1.54), (8.85±1.77), (3.02±0.58) s respectively. The TTPs of ROI-1 to ROI-4 in right internal carotid artery and ROI-5 in right vetebral artery angiography are (2.77±0.35), (2.87±0.36), (8.01±1.14), (8.77±1.26), (3.06±0.55) s respectively. Conclusion The technique of iFlow provides a reference value index in normal cerebral hemodynamic, and set up a noval method in the research of cerebral hemodynamic. Key words: Color-coded digital subtraction angiography; Cerebral perfusion; Hemodynamic; Time to peak

Abstract WP130: Validation of Multi-parametric Ultrasonography Criteria with Catheter Angiography in Internal Carotid Artery Disease: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Introduction: Novel multi-parametric criteria for duplex ultrasonography (DUS) grading of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) steno-occlusive disease have been recently introduced by the German ultrasound expert panel (DEGUM). We sought to determine diagnostic accuracy of the DEGUM criteria against the gold standard catheter angiography. Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients who routinely underwent diagnostic or therapeutic catheter angiography of the extracranial carotid arteries at four German study sites. Internal carotid artery disease was graded according to the DEGUM multi-parametric criteria for DUS. On angiography, extracranial ICA disease was graded using the NASCET approach. Ultrasonography and endovascular raters were blinded to clinical data and any other imaging modalities. To correspond to clinically relevant NASCET groups, all stenosis measurements were stratified into ranges: normal, mild (1-49%), moderate (50-69%), severe (70-99%) and occlusion. Results: A total of 120 patients (median age, 69 [IQR, 16] years; 74% men; median time between DUS and angiography, 1 day [IQR, 2.5]) provided 162 DUS/angiography carotid artery pairs for final analysis. On angiography, moderate stenosis was found in 48 (30%) and severe stenosis in 63 (39%) arteries. Sensitivity of DUS for detection of moderate and severe stenosis was 35% (95%CI, 22-51%) and 81% (69-90%), with a NPV of 77% (68-84%) and 85% (75-92%), respectively. Specificity was 89% (81-94%) and 97% (94-99%), with a PPV of 57% (37-75%) and 62% (51-73%), respectively. Considering the entire spectrum of the disease (0-100%), the Bland-Altman interval limit of agreement was 51% (Figure). Conclusions: At laboratories experienced with ultrasound grading of the extracranial ICA, the novel DEGUM multi-parametric ultrasonography criteria do not eliminate the need for a confirmatory test for identification of clinically relevant grades of the disease.

NEUROSYPHILIS IN THERAPEUTIC PRACTICE: CLINICAL OBSERVATION

Objective : to describe a clinical case of neurosyphilis diagnosed in a therapeutic inpatient facility. Materials and methods . Female patient T., 61, was hospitalized in the therapeutic department of a general hospital with referral diagnosis of “Stage II hypertensive heart disease, risk 4. Hypertensive crisis of 03.12.2015” with complaints of general fatigue, episodes of transient memory loss with full recovery, unstable blood pressure level. The patient was examined: She underwent treponemal and nontreponemal serological tests for antibodies against Treponema рallidum, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus; electrocardiogram; angiography of carotid and vertebral arteries; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with contrast; serological and microscopic examinations of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Results . The patient»s medical history described episodes of transient global amnesia with full memory recovery, more frequent in the last year; arterial hypertension; chronic urinary tract infection; and chronic cholecystitis with frequent courses of antibacterial therapy (ceftriaxone). Since 1986, a positive serological reaction for syphilis was observed (Wassermann reaction (WR) +++) due to a history of primary syphilis. Considering reliable history of syphilis, positive serum confirmation tests for syphilis (nontreponemal: rapid plasma reagin test 3+; treponemal: passive hemagglutination reaction 4+, antibodies against T. pallidum (total) – present), history of neuropsychological symptoms (transient amnesia) and acute neurological symptoms before hospitalization (transient ischemic attack), brain MRI data (2 lesions of cerebral circulation disorders of ischemic type in the cortical branches of left and right mesencephalic arteries), a diagnosis of neurosyphilis was proposed, and lumbar puncture was performed for confirmation. Inflammatory characteristics of the CSF (cytosis 19/3, neutrophilia up to 12 cells, insignificant lymphocytosis up to 7 cells) and positive confirmation serological reactions (nontreponemal test: serum microprecipitation reaction negative, treponemal test: immunoassay: total antibodies – positivity coefficient (PC) 4.3; immunoglobulin G – PC 2.8) were indications for standard therapy for the “neurosyphilis” diagnosis with subsequent serological control of the CSF and serum. Conclusion . The clinical case demonstrates complexity of neurosyphilis diagnosis due to a lack of pronounced clinical manifestations of the disease and advisability of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment of these patients.

Fusion 3-Dimensional Angiography of Both Internal Carotid Arteries in the Evaluation of Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms

To determine whether fusion 3-dimensional (3D) angiography of both internal carotid arteries can better disclose vascular details in patients diagnosed with anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms by computed tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Thirty-eight patients diagnosed with ACoA aneurysms by CTA or MRA were evaluated by the new postprocessing feature, fusion 3D angiography, with results individually interpreted by 4 experts. Those experts compared fusion 3D angiography with dominant A1 side single 3D angiography to define advantages and disadvantages for ACoA aneurysms. Patients with unilateral A1 aplasia or rudimentary A1 were excluded. Patients who showed any disadvantages with this additional feature were classified as group 1, those with no advantages were classified as group 2, those with 1 or 2 advantages were classified as group 3, and those with 3 or more advantages were classified as group 4. Radiologic and clinical results were also evaluated. Of the 38 patients, 33 (87%) benefited from fusion 3D angiography, including 17 in group 3 and 16 in group 4; of the remaining patients, 1 was classified as group 1 and 4 were classified as group 2. Representative 5 categories of advantage to fusion angiography were found and summarized by the 4 experts. All 33 patients showed defining the exact anatomy of the ACoA, and 22 (67%) showed full angiographic features of A2 or A3, including branches. Fusion 3D angiography can significantly contribute to a better understanding of the complex anatomy of the anterior cerebral artery-ACoA complex, which is essential for successful treatment planning for ACoA aneurysms.

Exposure to Cigarette Smoke and the Carotid Arteries Calcification Index in Patients with Essential Hypertension.

The arteries calcification index is a quantitative, mathematically estimated parameter characterizing the total amount of calcium within atherosclerotic plaques in the walls of arteries. The objective is to determine a relationship between exposure to cigarette smoke and the carotid arteries calcification index in patients with essential hypertension. The tested group included 66 patients with essential hypertension: 19 active smokers (subgroup A), 20 non-smokers, environmentally exposed to cigarette smoke (subgroup B) and 27 persons without exposure to cigarette smoke (subgroup C). The tested group was subjected to computed tomography angiography of carotid arteries. Evaluation of the carotid arteries calcification indexes was conducted. The average value of the total calcification index of the carotid arteries (CAci) amounted to 368.28±384.21. In subgroup A and B in relation to subgroup C, CAci was significantly higher. In summary, active and passive smoking in patients with essential hypertension may be associated with a higher calcification index of carotid arteries.

Effects of selective carotid body stimulation with adenosine in conscious humans.

In humans, excitation of peripheral chemoreceptors with systemic hypoxia causes hyperventilation, hypertension and tachycardia. However, the contribution of particular chemosensory areas (carotid vs. aortic bodies) to this response is unclear. We showed that selective stimulation of the carotid body by the injection of adenosine into the carotid artery causes a dose-dependent increase in minute ventilation and blood pressure with a concomitant decrease in heart rate in conscious humans. The ventilatory response was abolished and the haemodynamic response was diminished following carotid body ablation. We found that the magnitude of adenosine evoked responses in minute ventilation and blood pressure was analogous to the responses evoked by hypoxia. By contrast, opposing heart rate responses were evoked by adenosine (bradycardia) vs. hypoxia (tachycardia). Intra-carotid adenosine administration may provide a novel method for perioperative assessment of the effectiveness of carotid body ablation, which has been recently proposed as a treatment strategy for sympathetically-mediated diseases. Stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptors by acute hypoxia causes an increase in minute ventilation (VI), heart rate (HR) and arterial blood pressure (BP). However, the contribution of particular chemosensory areas, such as carotid (CB) vs. aortic bodies, to this response in humans remains unknown. We performed a blinded, randomized and placebo-controlled study in 11 conscious patients (nine men, two women) undergoing common carotid artery angiography. Doses of adenosine ranging from 4 to 512μg or placebo solution of a matching volume were administered in randomized order via a diagnostic catheter located in a common carotid artery. Separately, ventilatory and haemodynamic responses to systemic hypoxia were also assessed. Direct excitation of a CB with intra-arterial adenosine increased VI, systolic BP, mean BP and decreased HR. No responses in these variables were seen after injections of placebo. The magnitude of the ventilatory and haemodynamic responses depended on both the dose of adenosine used and on the level of chemosensitivity as determined by the ventilatory response to hypoxia. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the CB abolished the adenosine evoked respiratory response and partially depressed the cardiovascular response in one participant. The results of the present study confirm the excitatory role of purines in CB physiology in humans and suggest that adenosine may be used for selective stimulation and assessment of CB activity. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01939912.

Prospective, randomised and blinded comparison of proficiency-based progression full-physics virtual reality simulator training versus invasive vascular experience for learning carotid artery angiography by very experienced operators

IntroductionWe assessed the transfer of training (ToT) of virtual reality simulation training compared to invasive vascular experience training for carotid artery angiography (CA) for highly experienced interventionists but new to...

Abstract WP233: Validation of Multi-parametric Ultrasonography Criteria With Catheter Angiography in Internal Carotid Artery Disease: a Multicenter Study

Introduction: Novel multi-parametric criteria for duplex ultrasonography (DUS) grading of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) steno-occlusive disease have been recently introduced by the German ultrasound expert panel (DEGUM). We sought to determine diagnostic accuracy of the DEGUM criteria against the gold standard catheter angiography. Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients who routinely underwent diagnostic or therapeutic catheter angiography of the extracranial carotid arteries in four German study sites. Internal carotid artery disease was graded according to the DEGUM multi-parametric criteria for DUS. On angiography, extracranial ICA disease was graded using the NASCET approach. Ultrasonography and endovascular raters were blinded to clinical data and any other imaging modalities. To correspond to clinically relevant NASCET groups, all stenosis measurements were stratified into ranges: normal, mild (1-49%), moderate (50-69%), severe (70-99%) and occlusion. Results: We studied 130 patients who underwent both DUS and catheter angiography for assessment of carotid arteries (mean age, 64±11 years; 67% men; median time between DUS and angiography, 1 day [interquartile range, 2.5]). To date, fifty-two carotid artery pairs were independently rated and available for comparative analysis. Compared with catheter angiography, DUS had the following positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV): PPV 50% and NPV 72% (3 true positive, 3 false positive, 33 true negative, 13 false negative) for detection of moderate, and PPV 57% and NPV 77% (20 true positive, 15 false positive, 13 true negative, 4 false negative) for detection of severe stenosis. Conclusions: Our preliminary data indicate that the novel DEGUM multi-parametric ultrasonography criteria do not eliminate the need for a confirmatory test for identification of clinically relevant grades of extracranial ICA disease.

Safety and efficacy of medium-sized particle embolisation for skull-base meningioma

To determine the effectiveness and safety of preoperative tumour embolisation for skull-base meningiomas via external carotid artery (ECA) feeders using medium-sized (150-250μm) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles. This study included 114 consecutive patients with skull-base meningiomas who underwent preoperative tumour embolisation using medium-sized PVA particles from January 2004 to December 2013. Tumours were categorised according to feeding artery as follows: type 1, tumour staining at ECA angiography only; type 2, tumour staining at both the ECA and internal carotid artery (ICA) angiography; or type 3, little or no tumour staining at ECA angiography. The effectiveness was based on the percent reduction in the enhanced area: >75% was considered effective, 25-75% was considered partially effective, and <25% was considered ineffective. Tumour embolisation was performed in patients with dominant feeding vessels originating from the ECA. Procedural-related complications occurred in two (1.8%) patients. Post-procedural MRI images were available for 51 patients, which revealed effective embolisation in only 13 (25.5%) patients. Identification of an ICA feeding vessel was associated with ineffective embolisation (p=0.011). Effective embolisation was associated with low estimated blood loss during surgery. ECA embolisation using medium-sized PVA is ineffective in patients in whom a definitive ICA feeding vessel was identified, even if preprocedural angiography showed that the dominant feeder originated from the ECA. When the risks of surgical morbidity and mortality are expected to be high, ICA feeder embolisation should also be considered.

Mouse Models of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation.

Arteriovenous (AV) malformation (AVM) is a vascular anomaly capable of both hemorrhagic and ischemic insults, leading to seizures, headaches, stroke, and even death.1 BAVM prevalence is estimated at 0.05%,2 often occurring in young people between 20 and 40 years of age.3 BAVMs account for 50% of hemorrhagic stroke in children4 and 1% to 2% of all strokes in the population.5 Brain AVMs (BAVMs) can cause life-threatening intracerebral hemorrhage (Figure 1).6 Fifty percent of patients are first diagnosed on intracerebral hemorrhage,1 with 1% and 5% annual hemorrhage rate for previously unruptured and ruptured AVMs, respectively.7,8 After BAVM rupture, reported mortality rates range from to 15% to 29%,7 and long-term morbidity rates range from 16% to 56%.1,9 Thus, BAVM is defined by vascular features and accompanying neurological deficits.1 Figure 1. Features of human brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM). A , An AVM is visualized on the lateral temporal surface of a human brain. 5, 6 are landmarks placed by surgeon; 40 shows Broca's area; 48 shows Wernicke's area. B , Left internal carotid artery (ICA) angiography (lateral view) reveals a left lateral temporal AVM with a large feeding artery and draining vein. C , Cartoon of this subtype (lateral view), indicating feeding arteries and draining veins. ATA indicates anterior temporal artery. Reprinted from Lawton6 with permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2014, Thieme Medical Publishers. AVM is characterized by high-flow AV connections that shunt blood directly from arteries to veins, displacing intervening capillaries with a nidus of enlarged and tortuous vessels. BAVM clinical characteristics include (1) AV shunting, the presence of direct connections between arteries and veins, displacing intervening capillaries; (2) abnormally high blood flow through the feeding artery, AV …

Quiescent interval low angle shot magnetic resonance angiography of the extracranial carotid arteries.

To test the feasibility of a quiescent interval low-angle shot (QLASH) sequence for nonenhanced MR angiography (MRA) of the extracranial carotid arteries at 3 T. The extracranial carotid arteries were imaged using QLASH MRA in healthy volunteers and patients with carotid arterial disease. The impact of three gating strategies (electrocardiographic-gated, pulse-gated, ungated) was evaluated. Image quality comparisons were made with respect to two-dimensional (2D) time of flight (TOF) MRA in volunteers and patients and contrast-enhanced MRA (CEMRA) in patients. Stenoses in patients were graded. QLASH MRA displayed the entire extent of the extracranial carotid arteries from their origins to the skull base. Electrocardiographic-gated QLASH MRA provided better image quality than pulse-gated and ungated implementations (P < 0.05) as well as 2D TOF MRA (P < 0.05). For grading of disease, QLASH MRA showed almost perfect agreement with CEMRA (Cohen's kappa = 0.86, P < 0.001) in a small cohort of patients with carotid arterial stenosis. QLASH MRA allows for evaluation of the entire extent of the extracranial carotid arteries with an average scan time of less than 6 min and better image quality than 2D TOF. Initial clinical results in this pilot study suggest that QLASH has potential utility as a nonenhanced alternative to CEMRA.

Ultrasound diagnostic compared with angiography of carotid arteries in the diagnosis of multifocal atherosclerosis

According to the modern statistics, the isolated atherosclerotic lesion in one arterial region occurs twice less often, than the combined lesion in several regions. Among the last, significant stenoses (&gt;50 %) make up to 25 % of cases. Vascular surgeons need high-informative and noninvasive diagnostic methods for detection of way of surgical treatment of these lesions. So far the X-ray contrast angiography (AG) remains a method of «the gold standard» whereas the screening part is assigned to the duplex scanning (DS). The aim of present study was to compare results of ultrasonic DS and angiography in patients with multifocal atherosclerosis. Sensitivity and specificity of these methods had been evaluated. By means of screening of 565 men of 45-59-years-old, 64 patients with multifocal atherosclerotic lesions in coronary, carotid and low extremity arteries were identified. They were examined using DS and AG. The degree of carotid stenosis was accurately measured both by means of ultrasonic duplex scanning and angiography. Sensitivity and specificity of DS were 86 and 71 %, sensitivity of AG was 97 %, specificity was 86 %. Furthermore duplex scanning provided more information in detecting of unstable plaques compared with angiography. Thus ultrasound diagnostic may be considered a useful method for detecting different characteristics of multifocal atherosclerotic lesion, including the preoperative noninvasive assessment.

Dialysis arteriovenous fistula causing subclavian steal syndrome in the absence of subclavian artery stenosis.

We present a rare cause of subclavian steal syndrome secondary to a dialysis arteriovenous fistula (AVF). A 69-year-old female with end-stage renal disease presented with ataxia and recurrent fainting spells. Angiography revealed normal subclavian arteries bilaterally, a right VA origin occlusion, and an apparent left VA origin occlusion. However, carotid artery angiography demonstrated flow through the posterior communicating artery with retrograde filling of the basilar artery and left VA to its subclavian origin. Repeat left subclavian arteriography during external compression of the AVF demonstrated normal antegrade left VA flow. The AVF was subsequently ligated resulting in complete symptom resolution.

The Revised Sonographic NASCET Index: A New Hemodynamic Parameter for the Assessment of Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis.

A previously described Doppler parameter, the sonographic NASCET index (SNI), was derived to be more directly analogous to the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) methodology for assessing carotid artery stenosis. However, this index does not account for complex changes affecting the Doppler waveform. We propose a revised SNI (rSNI) in an effort to improve predicting carotid stenosis. 25 carotid bifurcations with stenoses ranging from 40 - 92 % were analyzed. For each vessel, the rSNI and original SNI were calculated. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), rSNI, and original SNI were correlated with angiography using linear regression analysis and relative accuracies were compared at two thresholds. A correlation between rSNI and angiography was found to be significantly better than that between PSV or internal carotid artery-common carotid artery (ICA-CCA) peak velocity ratio and angiography (r² = 0.47 vs. 0.22; r² = 0.47 vs. 0.16). The accuracy of PSV in predicting high-grade stenosis was 68% and 72%, compared with 80% and 88% for rSNI, at each of two thresholds. The original SNI better correlated with angiography compared to the rSNI (r² = 0.55 vs. 0.47), but with slightly lower accuracy in predicting high-grade stenosis (76% vs. 80%). The revised SNI correlates more closely with angiographic stenosis than either the PSV or the ICA-CCA ratio, and is more accurate in predicting high-grade stenosis. However, it is overall comparable to the original SNI, suggesting that the previously unaccounted for effects over the remainder of the cardiac cycle do not significantly improve the ability to sonographically predict significant stenosis.

Nonenhanced arterial spin labeled carotid MR angiography using three‐dimensional radial balanced steady‐state free precession imaging

To optimize and preliminarily evaluate a three-dimensional (3D) radial balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) arterial spin labeled (ASL) sequence for nonenhanced MR angiography (MRA) of the extracranial carotid arteries. The carotid arteries of 13 healthy subjects and 2 patients were imaged on a 1.5 Tesla MRI system using an undersampled 3D radial bSSFP sequence providing a scan time of ∼4 min and 1 mm(3) isotropic resolution. A hybridized scheme that combined pseudocontinuous and pulsed ASL was used to maximize arterial coverage. The impact of a post label delay period, the sequence repetition time, and radiofrequency (RF) energy configuration of pseudocontinuous labeling on the display of the carotid arteries was assessed with contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements. Faster, higher undersampled 2 and 1 min scans were tested. Using hybridized ASL MRA and a 3D radial bSSFP trajectory, arterial CNR was maximized with a post label delay of 0.2 s, repetition times ≥ 2.5 s (P < 0.05), and by eliminating RF energy during the pseudocontinuous control phase (P < 0.001). With higher levels of undersampling, the carotid arteries were displayed in ≤ 2 min. Nonenhanced MRA using hybridized ASL with a 3D radial bSSFP trajectory can display long lengths of the carotid arteries with 1 mm(3) isotropic resolution.

Fenestration of the vertebral artery: case presentation

Fenestrations of vertebral arteries are considered to be rare abnormalities observed in angiographic and autopsy studies. They result from vascular abnormalities that occur during the embryological development of vertebral artery. Fenestrations of the vertebral artery are vascular structures having 2 different lumens and endothelium layers, sharing either the same or separate adventitia layers. As a result of the carotid Doppler ultrasonography performed on a 65-year-old woman applying to the Neurology Clinic of Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Research and Practice Hospital with the complaints of vertigo and numbness in the head, a plaque leading to 60% stenosis in the right internal carotid artery, close to the place of initiation was seen. The patient, whose vertebral artery lumen structures and calibrations have found to be normal in the Doppler ultrasonography of vertebral artery, was scheduled for double-sided selective carotid and vertebral artery angiography. With the performed digital subtraction angiography imaging method, an atheroma plaque, extending to internal carotid artery proximal starting from sinus caroticus through the right internal carotid artery and leading to 50% stenosis, having the appearance of an ulcer, was observed. In the vertebral artery angiography of the case, while the right vertebral artery was found to be normal, fenestration in the upper cervical segment was observed in the left vertebral artery. This situation has been presented in this paper with radiological and embryological evaluation.

Radiological Diagnosis and Management of Epistaxis

The majority of episodes of spontaneous posterior epistaxis treated with embolisation are idiopathic in nature. The angiographic findings are typically normal. Specific angiographic signs are rare and may include the following: a tumour blush, telangiectasia, aneurysm, and/or extravasation. Selective internal carotid artery (ICA) angiography may show rare causes of epistaxis, such as traumatic or mycotic aneurysms, which require different treatment approaches. Complete bilateral selective external and internal carotid angiograms are essential to evaluation. The images should be analysed for detection of central retinal blush in the external carotid artery (ECA) and anastomoses between the branches of the ECA and ICA. Monocular blindness and stroke are two of the most severe complications. Embolisation aims to decrease flow to the bleeding nasal mucosa while avoiding necrosis of the nasal skin and palate mucosa. Embolisation is routinely performed with a microcatheter positioned in the internal maxillary artery distal to the origin of the meningeal arteries. A guiding catheter should be placed in the proximal portion of the ECA to avoid vasospasm. Embolisation with microparticles is halted when the peripheral branches of the sphenopalatine artery are occluded. The use of coils is not recommended because recurrent epistaxis may occur due to proximal embolization; moreover, the option of repeat distal embolisation is lost. The success rate of embolisation therapy (accounting for late recurrence of bleeding) varies between 71 and 94 %. Results from endoscopic surgery are quite comparable. When epistaxis is refractory to nasal packing or endoscopic surgery, embolisation is the treatment of choice in some centres.