Sole stenting technique for the treatment of uncoilable very small aneurysms in the intracranial internal carotid artery.

The treatment of very small aneurysms with diameter of less than 3 mm remains a challenge for both endovascular and surgical treatment. Endovascular treatment of these lesions may be difficult and is associated with a high risk of complications because of their small size. The present study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of the endovascular treatment using sole stenting technique for uncoilable very small aneurysms of the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA). From August 2004 through January 2010, eight very small aneurysms of intracranial ICA in eight patients were treated with endovascular sole stenting technique. All very small aneurysms were ruptured (n = 3) or aneurysms associated with another ruptured (n = 2) and unruptured aneurysms (n = 3) in the same artery. Stents were Neuroform and balloon expandable coronary stents. Stent deployment was carried out without difficulty in all patients. Single stent deployment was done for six aneurysms, and double stents in two aneurysms. The immediate angiographic results were partial occlusion in one case and no occlusion in seven cases. One direct carotid-cavernous fistula occurred during coronary stenting without permanent neurological deficit. No neurological deterioration or hemorrhagic complication was seen during the follow-up period in seven patients. Follow-up angiography (mean 9 months) was available in six patients and revealed complete occlusion in four and no occlusion in two cases. Sole stenting technique may be a feasible and effective therapeutic alternative for uncoilable very small aneurysms. The long-term efficacy and durability of stenting for these lesions remains to be determined in a large series.