• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.274-280
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• 2013

Objective : To evaluate the feasibility and clinical and angiographic outcomes of stent-assisted embolization for complex middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms. Methods : The records of 23 consecutive patients with 24 MCA aneurysms, who underwent stent-assisted embolization of the aneurysm, were retrospectively evaluated. Results : Fifteen aneurysms were treated with one stent and 8 were treated using more than two stents (5 a stent-within-a-stent, 1 triple stents, and two Y-stent). Angiographically, complete or near complete occlusion was achieved in 15 aneurysms (65.2%), residual neck in five (21.7%), and residual aneurysm in three (13.1%). Five aneurysms demonstrated thrombosis within the stent during the procedure and hospitalization, and were resolved by intraarterial and intravenous Tirofiban injection. Symptomatic thromboembolic complications were developed in five patients and permanent deficits demonstrated in two patients with modified Rankin Scale 1 and 2, respectively. Treatment-related permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 8.3% and 0% with relatively high complication rate. Angiographic follow-up was available in 17 aneurysms at 6-31 months (mean, 13.2 months) and showed stable or improved in 15 (88.2%) and major and minor recurrence in one, respectively. Conclusion : Complex MCA aneurysms could be treated by stent-assisted coiling and showed lower recanalization rate during mid-term follow-up by effective flow diversion due to various stent-assisted techniques. Our results warrant further study with a longer follow-up period in a larger sample.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.246-247
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• 2007

The most common cause of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy is ischemia of the peripheral nerve caused by a disease, such as diabetes mellitus. Another common cause of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy is compression by an intracranial aneurysm, usually an posterior communicating artery aneurysm. However, it is extremely rare in the pituitary tumor. We report an unusual case of pituitary adenoma presenting with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy in the setting of pituitary apoplexy. We suggest that pituitary apoplexy should be included in the differential diagnosis of a patient with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy and early surgery should be considered for preservation of oculomotor nerve function.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2009

Objective : The International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms (ISUIA) reported that the 5-year cumulative rupture rate of small unruptured aneurysms less than 7 mm in diameter is very low depending on the aneurysm's location. However, we have seen a large number of ruptured aneurysms less than 7 mm in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to review our experience and to measure the size and location at which aneurysms ruptured in our patient population. Methods : We reviewed the characteristics of aneurysms, such as size and location, from the original angiograms of patients who were admitted to our hospital between January 2004 and December 2007. All aneurysms were treated surgically or through endovascular procedures. Results : Interventional or surgical treatment was given to a total of 889 patients, including 568 females and 321 males. At the time of our study, 627 cases were ruptured aneurysms and 262 cases were unruptured aneurysms. Of the ruptured cases, the mean diameter of the aneurysm was 6.28 mm. We found that 71.8% of ruptured aneurysms were smaller than 7 mm in diameter, and 87.9%, were smaller than 10 mm. Based on location, the data show that anterior communicating artery aneurysms most often presented with rupture sizes less than 7 mm (76.8%) and 10 mm (92.1%) in diameter. Most ruptured aneurysms were less than 7 mm in size, although recent studies have noted that small aneurysms are less likely to rupture. Conclusion : Although the natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms remains controversial, the aneurysm size and location play a signigicant role in determining the risk of rupture. Larger sample sizes and a long term study are needed to reveal the natural history and the rupture risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysms because the size of most ruptured aneurysms was less than 7 mm in diameter in our series.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2017

Objective : The purposes of this study were to introduce a superficial temporal artery (STA)-sparing mini-pterional approach for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms and review the surgical results of this approach. Methods : Between June 2010 and December 2015, we performed the STA-sparing mini-pterional approach for 117 patients with 141 unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We analyzed demographic, radiologic, and clinical variables including age, sex, craniotomy size, aneurysm location, height of STA bifurcation, and postoperative complications. Results : The mean age of patients was 58.4 years. The height of STA bifurcation from the superior border of the zygomatic arch was $20.5mm{\pm}10.0$ (standard deviation [SD]). The craniotomy size was $1051.6mm^2{\pm}206.5$ (SD). Aneurysm neck clipping was possible in all cases. Intradural anterior clinoidectomy was performed in four cases. Contralateral approaches to aneurysms were adopted for four cases. Surgery-related complications occurred in two cases. Permanent morbidity occurred in one case. Conclusion : Our STA-sparing mini-pterional approach for surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms is easy to learn and has the advantages of small incision, STA sparing, and a relatively wide surgical field. It may be a good alternative to the conventional pterional approach for treating cerebral aneurysms.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.247-254
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• 2012

This study presents the assessment results of coil length characteristics according to the volume of cerebral artery among the inpatients that received angiography and coil embolization following intracranial aneurysm from March, 2010 to September 2011. The volume rendering method was applied to the patients that received embolization to their cerebral arteries to obtain volume measurements. After coil embolization, the volume ratios were calculated with the volumes and lengths of coils. The embolic volume ratios were $43.11{\pm}3.11%$, $36.07{\pm}2.03%$, 40.91%, and 38.25% when the aneurysm sizes were 6mm or less, 6~10mm, 10~15mm and 20mm or more, respectively, being similar to the recommended volume ratios. Regardless of the types of aneurysm, the coil length according to volume was 0.65cm per $1mm^3$ of 20~$100mm^3$ when one type of 0.25mm diameter coil was used. They were 0.62cm per $1mm^3$ of 20~$150mm^3$ when one type of coil was used in the aneurysm volume of the saccular type and 0.60cm per $1mm^3$ of 20~$90mm^3$ when one type of coil was used in the aneurysm volume of the multi-lobulated type.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.514-523
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• 2021

Objective : Aneurysm volume quantification (AVQ) using the equation of ellipsoid volume is widely used although it is inaccurate. Furthermore, AVQ with 3-dimensional (3D) rendered data has limitations in general use. A novel universal method for AVQ is introduced for any diagnostic modality and application to any shape of aneurysms. Methods : Relevant AVQ studies published from January 1997 to June 2019 were identified to determine common methods of AVQ. The basic idea is to eliminate the normal artery volume from 3D model with the aneurysm. After Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data is converted and exported to stereolithography (STL) file format, the 3D STL model is modified to remove the aneurysm and the volume difference between the 3D model with/without the aneurysm is defined as the aneurysm volume. Fifty randomly selected aneurysms from DICOM database were used to validate the different AVQ methods. Results : We reviewed and categorized AVQ methods in 121 studies. Approximately 60% used the ellipsoid method, while 24% used the 3D model. For 50 randomly selected aneurysms, volumes were measured using 3D Slicer, RadiAnt, and ellipsoid method. Using 3D Slicer as the reference, the ratios of mean difference to mean volume obtained by RadiAnt and ellipsoid method were -1.21±7.46% and 4.04±30.54%, respectively. The deviations between RadiAnt and 3D Slicer were small despite of aneurysm shapes, but those of ellipsoid method and 3D Slicer were large. Conclusion : In spite of inaccuracy, ellipsoid method is still mostly used. We propose a novel universal method for AVQ that is valid, low cost, and easy to use.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2010

Objective : There have been no clinical studies regarding the epidemiology and treatment outcome for unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) in South Korea yet. Thus, The Korean Society of Cerebrovascular Surgery (KSCVS) decided to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics, and outcome of the treatment of UIA in 2006, using the nationwide multicenter survey in South Korea. Methods : A total of 1,696 cases were enrolled retrospectively over one year at 48 hospitals. The following data were obtained from all patients : age, sex, presence of symptoms, location and size of the aneurysm, treatment modality, presence of risk factors for stroke, and the postoperative 3D-day morbidity and mortality. Results : The demographic data showed female predominance and peak age of seventh and sixth decades. Supraclinoid internal carotid artery was the most common site of aneurysms with a mean size of 5.6 mm. Eight-hundred-forty-six patients (49.9%) were treated with clipping, 824 (48.6%) with coiling, and 26 with combined method. The choice of the treatment modalities was related to hospital (p=0.000), age (p=0.000), presence of symptom (p=0.003), and location of aneurysm (p=0.000). The overall 30-day morbidity and mortality were 7.4% and 0.3%, respectively. The 30-day mortality was 0.4% for clipping and 0.2% for coiling, and morbidity was 8.4% for clipping and 6.3% for coiling. Age (p=0.010), presence of symptoms (p=0.034), size (p=0.000) of aneurysm, and diabetes mellitus (p=0.000) were significant prognostic factors, while treatment modality was not. Conclusion : This first nation-wide multicenter survey on UIAs demonstrates the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, outcome and the prognostic factors of the treatment of UIAs in South Korea. The 30-day postoperative outcome for UIAs seems to be reasonable morbidity and mortality in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.246-255
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• 2022

Objective: To determine the usefulness of Silent MR angiography (MRA) for evaluating intracranial aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coil embolization. Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine patients (101 aneurysms) treated with stent-assisted coil embolization (Neuroform atlas, 71 cases; Enterprise, 17; LVIS Jr, 9; and Solitaire AB, 4 cases) underwent time-of-flight (TOF) MRA and Silent MRA in the same session using a 3T MRI system within 24 hours of embolization. Two radiologists independently interpreted both MRA images retrospectively and rated the image quality using a 5-point Likert scale. The image quality and diagnostic accuracy of the two modalities in the detection of aneurysm occlusion were further compared based on the stent design and the site of aneurysm. Results: The average image quality scores of the Silent MRA and TOF MRA were 4.38 ± 0.83 and 2.78 ± 1.04, respectively (p < 0.001), with an almost perfect interobserver agreement. Silent MRA had a significantly higher image quality score than TOF MRA at the distal internal carotid artery (n = 57, 4.25 ± 0.91 vs. 3.05 ± 1.16, p < 0.001), middle cerebral artery (n = 21, 4.57 ± 0.75 vs. 2.19 ± 0.68, p < 0.001), anterior cerebral artery (n = 13, 4.54 ± 0.66 vs. 2.46 ± 0.66, p < 0.001), and posterior circulation artery (n = 10, 4.50 ± 0.71 vs. 2.90 ± 0.74, p = 0.013). Silent MRA had superior image quality score to TOF MRA in the stented arteries when using Neuroform atlas (4.66 ± 0.53 vs. 3.21 ± 0.84, p < 0.001), Enterprise (3.29 ± 1.59 vs. 1.59 ± 0.51, p = 0.003), LVIS Jr (4.33 ± 1.89 vs. 1.89 ± 0.78, p = 0.033), and Solitaire AB stents (4.00 ± 2.25 vs. 2.25 ± 0.96, p = 0.356). The interpretation of the status of aneurysm occlusion exhibited significantly higher sensitivity with Silent MRA than with TOF MRA when using the Neuroform Atlas stent (96.4% vs. 14.3%, respectively, p < 0.001) and LVIS Jr stent (100% vs. 20%, respectively, p = 0.046). Conclusion: Silent MRA can be useful to evaluate aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coil embolization, regardless of the aneurysm location and type of stent used.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.592-599
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• 2001

Objective : The anterior communicating artery(ACoA) is known to be the most frequent location of intracranial aneurysms, but the complex arterial anatomy of the ACoA region makes this aneurysm among the most difficult one to treat. In the treatment of ACoA aneurysms, the direction of aneurysmal fundus is known to be very important in the surgical tactics. All ACoA aneurysms in our series were classified according to its direction, and analyzed the clinical features in order to investigate the prognostic factors influencing upon the surgical outcome. Methods : The authors reviewed 236 cases of ruptured ACoA aneurysms that were operated from 1990 to 1997, were classified according to Pia's classification. Results : The incidence rate of the ACoA aneurysm was 35.1%(236/672). Ventral group was more common than dorsal group, especially in ventro-caudal projection subgroup(36.0%). Poor preoperative clinical grade(Hunt-Hess grade IV and V) patients were more common in dorsal group(13.1%) than ventral group(2.6%). Rebleeding and intracerebral hematoma were more commonly seen in ventral group. However, vasospasm, hydrocephalus, hyponatremia, and intraventricular hemorrhage were observed more frequently in dorsal group. Worse outcome was more common in dorsal group than ventral group, especially in dorso-caudal projection subgroup. Also, poor outcome was identified in patients with intracerebral hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage, hyponatremia, and hypertension, although statistically insignificant. In cases with the A1 dominancy, there was no difference in surgical outcome between the right and left side approach. The higher the aneurysmal neck from the planum sphenoidale, the worse outcome via pterional approach. Conclusion : It seems that the preoperative clinical grade, aneurysmal direction, and the height of aneurysmal neck, especially in the pterional approach, would be the major prognostic factors, and that intracerebral hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage, hyponatremia, hydrocephalus and the intraoperative aneurysmal rupture would be the minor prognostic factors.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.518-527
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• 2015

Objective : The treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms remains challenging. One approach is the application of surgical flow alteration to treat aneurysms that are neither clippable, trappable, or coilable. The efficacy and limitations of surgical flow alteration have not yet been established. Methods : Cases of complex aneurysms treated with surgical flow alteration (proximal occlusion with or without bypass, distal occlusion with or without bypass and bypass only) were included in this retrospective study. Results : Among a total of 16 cases, there were 7 giant aneurysms (${\geq}25mm$ diameter) and 9 large aneurysms (>10 mm diameter); 15 of 16 aneurysms were unruptured. There were 8 aneurysms located in the anterior circulation, while the other 8 were in the posterior circulation. Aneurysms were treated with proximal occlusion in 10 cases and distal occlusion in 5 cases; in 1 case, the aneurysm occluded spontaneously after bypass without parent artery occlusion. All but 2 cases underwent prior or concurrent bypass surgery. Complete obliteration of the aneurysm at the latest imaging follow-up was shown in 12 of 16 cases (75.0%). Bypass patency was confirmed in 13 of 15 cases (86.7%). Surgery-related morbidity developed in 3 cases (18.8%, Glasgow outcome scale of 4) and all were perforator infarctions. There were no mortalities. Conclusion : Surgical flow alteration resulted in a high rate of aneurysmal obliteration with acceptable morbidity. Although several limitations remained, it could represent an alternative method for treating complex aneurysms.