Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the immediate and long-term clinical results, as well as the angiographic results, of occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCA) berry aneurysms with coils.
Materials and methods: This retrospective study had institutional review board approval, and informed consent was obtained. One hundred fifty-four MCA aneurysms in 142 patients were intended to be treated. Complications, patient clinical outcomes, and immediate postprocedural and follow-up angiography results were retrospectively evaluated.
Results: One hundred forty-nine (96.8%) of 154 MCA aneurysms (72 ruptured, 77 unruptured) were occluded with coils in 137 patients (99 women and 38 men; age range, 28-76 years; mean, 48 years). Thromboembolic events occurred in 20 (13.4%) and aneurysm perforation occurred in seven (4.7%) of 149 procedures. Endovascular treatment (EVT) was performed without complications for 121 (81.2%) of the treated aneurysms. For ruptured aneurysms, the treatment-related mortality rate was 6% (four of 72 aneurysms) and the treatment-induced permanent morbidity rate was 1% (one aneurysm). For unruptured aneurysms, the treatment-induced mortality rate was 1% (one of 77 aneurysms) and the procedure-related permanent morbidity rate was 3% (two aneurysms). One hundred five (70.5%) of the 149 aneurysms were examined with follow-up angiography at least once. Recurrences were found for 21 (20%) of the 105 aneurysms that were followed up for a cumulative period of 1564 months (mean, 15 months). Of these 21 recurrent aneurysms, 10 increased in size in the interval between follow-up angiography examinations and 11 remained stable. A second treatment was required for 12 aneurysms, and a third treatment was required for one. After repeat EVT, total aneurysm occlusion was attained for nine aneurysms, and a residual neck was seen in two aneurysms. One recurrent aneurysm was surgically clipped. The nine other aneurysms with small recurrences were not candidates for additional treatment.
Conclusion: EVT of MCA aneurysms with coils can be successfully performed without inducing neurologic deficits in most patients with ruptured or unruptured aneurysms.