The role of endovascular treatment in unruptured basilar tip aneurysms.

Objective This study was to evaluate the safety and efficiency of endovascular treatment of unruptured basilar tip aneurysms. Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive 79 cases of unruptured basilar tip aneurysms in our center between 2009 and 2014. The patients' clinical and imaging information were recorded. Complications, initial occlusion rate, clinical outcomes and the predictors were retrospectively analyzed. Results Thirty-five cases received conservative treatment and 44 cases were treated by endovascular embolization. In the conservative treatment group, six (19.4%) of 31 basilar tip aneurysms ruptured and resulted in five deaths (16.1%) during the mean 18.1-month follow-up (range from 1 to 60 months). Among the endovascularly treated cases, 24 (54.5%) achieved initial complete occlusion and no delayed hemorrhagic events occurred during the mean 33.6-month follow-up (range from 10 to 68 months). For 20 (45.5%) incompletely occluded cases, five postoperative or delayed hemorrhagic events and two mass effect events resulted in six deaths. There were no statistical significant differences in hemorrhagic events ( p = 0.732) and mortality ( p = 0.502) between the incomplete occlusion group and untreated group. Large aneurysm size (≥10 mm) was an independent predictor for incomplete occlusion ( p = 0.002), which had a potential risk of postoperative or delayed hemorrhage. On univariate analysis, initial occlusion rate and aneurysm size were found to be associated with clinical outcomes ( p = 0.042 and 0.015). Conclusion Complete occlusion for unruptured basilar tip aneurysm proved to be a safe and effective therapeutic method that could eliminate the potential risk of postoperative or delayed hemorrhage.