PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - V. Da Ros
AU  - J. Caroff
AU  - A. Rouchaud
AU  - C. Mihalea
AU  - L. Ikka
AU  - J. Moret
AU  - L. Spelle
TI  - Large Basilar Apex Aneurysms Treated with Flow-Diverter Stents
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A5167
DP  - 2017 Apr 27
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2017/04/27/ajnr.A5167.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2017/04/27/ajnr.A5167.full
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The treatment of wide-neck, large basilar apex aneurysms is challenging with either an endovascular or a surgical approach. The aim of the present study was to report our experience treating basilar apex aneurysms with flow-diverter stents and to evaluate their efficacy and safety profile in this specific anatomic condition.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from all consecutive patients treated with flow-diverter stents at our institution between January 2011 and January 2015. Patients with large basilar apex aneurysms treated with a flow-diverter stent were included in the study. Clinical presentations, technical details, intra- and perioperative complications, and clinical and angiographic outcomes were recorded, with a midterm follow-up.RESULTS: Of the 175 aneurysms treated with flow-diverter stents at our institution, 5 patients (2 women and 3 men; age range, 44–58 years) received flow-diverter stent for basilar apex aneurysms. The mean follow-up after stent deployment was 21 months (range, 15–24 months). One patient died on day 31 from an early postprocedural midbrain hemorrhage. One patient had a right cerebellar hemispheric ischemic lesion with a transient cerebellar syndrome resolved within 24 hours without neurologic sequelae at the latest follow-up. The mRS was 0 in 4 patients and 6 in 1 patient at last follow-up.CONCLUSIONS: Flow diversion is a feasible technique with an efficacy demonstrated at a midterm follow-up, especially in the case of basilar apex aneurysm recurrences after previous endovascular treatments. Concern about its safety profile still exists.AbbreviationsBAAbasilar apex aneurysmmRRmodified Raymond-RoyPCAposterior cerebral artery