Index by author

The implications of the reversal of DWI abnormalities in patients with TIA and minor strokes were assessed. Patients were imaged within 24 hours of symptoms and followed for 3 months and baseline and final infarct volumes were calculated using DWI and FLAIR, respectively. Over 55% of patients had DWI lesions and 37% had perfusion deficits. DWI reversal occurred in 6% of patients with lesion volume being considerably smaller than in those that did not reverse. Perfusion abnormalities were less common in reversible lesions as well. The authors concluded that DWI lesion reversal is uncommon and more likely with smaller lesions.

Controversy about the best treatment method for MCA aneurysms persists and these authors report the results of endovascular treatment of these lesions in a large series in which 295 such aneurysms were treated during a 17-year period and the results retrospectively analyzed. Complete occlusion was achieved in 94% and treatment failed in 4.3%. Procedure-related morbidity and mortality occurred in nearly 8%. Death occurred in 13.6% of patients and 4.3% needed to be re-treated. Thus, endovascular treatment of MCA aneurysms is acceptable as a primary treatment.