Moon-Soo Han1, Seung-Hoon Jung1, Tae-Sun Kim1, Sung-Pil Joo2. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Hospital and Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Hospital and Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: nsjsp@jnu.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intracranial infectious aneurysms (IAs) are rare cerebrovascular lesions that represent only 1%-6% of all intracranial aneurysms. IAs are rare cerebrovascular lesions and pose a significant therapeutic challenge because of their angiographic and pathophysiologic features. We describe a patient with an intracranial IA treated by the use of reconstructive endovascular methods using a balloon-expandable covered stent and discuss the pathophysiologic characteristics of IA based on serial brain imaging findings. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 21-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department with headache and vomiting. Neurologic examination, hematologic workup, and cerebrospinal fluid examination confirmed a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Initial brain magnetic resonance angiography revealed no significant stenosis lesions or aneurysm. After 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment, follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an 8-mm sized aneurysm on the petrous portion of the right internal carotid artery, and 3 months later, follow-up brain magnetic resonance angiography revealed that the aneurysm had increased in size from 8 to 15 mm. Conventional 4-vessel angiography confirmed the presence of a pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular treatment was then planned via the use of a balloon-expandable covered stent. Postoperatively, the patient was discharged without specific neurologic deficit. CONCLUSIONS: IAs are rare cerebrovascular lesions and pose a significant therapeutic challenge because of their angiographic and pathophysiologic features. Although endovascular treatment is not performed routinely for infectious aneurysms, the covered stent may represent a safe and effective treatment that achieves complete endoluminal reconstruction of the damaged vessel wall.
BACKGROUND:Intracranial infectious aneurysms (IAs) are rare cerebrovascular lesions that represent only 1%-6% of all intracranial aneurysms. IAs are rare cerebrovascular lesions and pose a significant therapeutic challenge because of their angiographic and pathophysiologic features. We describe a patient with an intracranial IA treated by the use of reconstructive endovascular methods using a balloon-expandable covered stent and discuss the pathophysiologic characteristics of IA based on serial brain imaging findings. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 21-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department with headache and vomiting. Neurologic examination, hematologic workup, and cerebrospinal fluid examination confirmed a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Initial brain magnetic resonance angiography revealed no significant stenosis lesions or aneurysm. After 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment, follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an 8-mm sized aneurysm on the petrous portion of the right internal carotid artery, and 3 months later, follow-up brain magnetic resonance angiography revealed that the aneurysm had increased in size from 8 to 15 mm. Conventional 4-vessel angiography confirmed the presence of a pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular treatment was then planned via the use of a balloon-expandable covered stent. Postoperatively, the patient was discharged without specific neurologic deficit. CONCLUSIONS: IAs are rare cerebrovascular lesions and pose a significant therapeutic challenge because of their angiographic and pathophysiologic features. Although endovascular treatment is not performed routinely for infectious aneurysms, the covered stent may represent a safe and effective treatment that achieves complete endoluminal reconstruction of the damaged vessel wall.