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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 23:740-741, April 2002
© 2002 American Society of Neuroradiology

LETTERS

In Re: Arterial Dissection Complicating Cerebral Angiography and Cerebrovascular Interventions

Jiri Vitek, MD, PhD^a

^a Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute
New York, NY

Belatedly, I read the above-mentioned article written by Cloft et al (1) and published in the March 2000 issue of AJNR. It seems that our younger colleagues do not pay enough attention to the older medical literature: in 1975, an article (2) dealing with exactly the same topic was published. It enumerated exactly the same causes of damage in the brachiocephalic arteries due to the catheter angiography and had exactly the same conclusions. At that time, we redesigned the multipurpose catheter that we used for brachiocephalic angiography in such a way that the tip of the catheter did not direct the injected contrast against the vessel wall but into the bloodstream and that it was difficult to wedge into the vessel wall. Other work (3, 4) also deserves to be mentioned. The value of Dr Cloft’s article is that he reminded younger neuroradiologists of the possibility that iatrogenic damage to the brachiocephalic arteries during diagnostic or interventional procedures may occur and discussed how to avoid them.

References

1. Cloft HJ, Jensen ME, Kallmes DF, Dion JE. Arterial dissections complicating cerebral angiography and cerebrovascular interventions. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol2000; 21 :541 –545[Abstract/Free Full Text]

2. Vitek JJ, Powell DF, Anderson RD. Damage of the brachiocephalic vessels due to catheterization. Neuroradiology1975; 9 :63 –67

3. Lang EK. A survey of the complications of percutaneous retrograde arteriography. Radiology1963; 81 :257 –263

4. Gilbert GJ, Melnick GS. Pathophysiology of subintimal hematoma formation during retrograde arteriography. Radiology1965; 85 :306 –319[Medline]

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Harry J. Cloft, MD, PhD^b

^b Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN

Reply:

I apologize to Dr Vitek for overlooking his earlier work. I appreciate his pointing this out to the neuroradiology community so that we can all learn from his work and the work of others.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vitek, J. Articles by Cloft, H. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vitek, J. Articles by Cloft, H. J.