More articles from EXTRACRANIAL VASCULAR
- TIPIC Syndrome: Beyond the Myth of Carotidynia, a New Distinct Unclassified Entity
This study included 47 patients from 10 centers presenting between January 2009 through April 2016with acute neck pain or tenderness and at least 1 cervical image showing unclassified carotid abnormalities. The authors conducted a systematic, retrospective study of their medical charts and diagnostic and follow-up imaging. All patients presented with acute neck pain, and 8 presented with transient neurologic symptoms. Imaging showed an eccentric pericarotidian infiltration in all patients. An intimal soft plaque was noted in 16 patients, and a mild luminal narrowing was noted in 16 patients. The authors conclude that this study improves the description of an unclassified, clinico-radiologic entity, which could be described by the proposed acronym: Transient Perivascular Inflammation of the Carotid artery (TIPIC) syndrome.
- Ascending and Descending Thoracic Vertebral Arteries
The authors report the angiographic anatomy and clinical significance of 9 cases of descending and 2 cases of ascending thoracic vertebral arteries. Located within the upper costotransverse spaces, ascending and descending thoracic vertebral arteries may have important implications during spine interventional or surgical procedures. They frequently provide radiculomedullary or bronchial branches, so they can also be implicated in spinal cord ischemia, as a supply of vascular malformations, or be a source of hemoptysis.
- Emergent Endovascular Management of Long-Segment and Flow-Limiting Carotid Artery Dissections in Acute Ischemic Stroke Intervention with Multiple Tandem Stents
The authors investigated the role of emergent endovascular stenting of long-segment carotid dissections in the acute ischemic stroke setting in 15 patients. They specifically evaluated long-segment carotid dissections requiring stent reconstruction with multiple tandem stents (≥ 3 stents) and presenting with acute (<12 hours) ischemic stroke symptoms (NIHSS score, ≥ 4). Carotid stent reconstruction was successful in all patients with no residual stenosis or flow limitation. Nine patients (60%) harbored intracranial occlusions, and 6 patients (40%) required intra-arterial thrombolysis/thrombectomy, achieving 100% TICI 2b–3 reperfusion. They conclude that emergent stent reconstruction of long-segment and flow-limiting carotid dissections in acute ischemic stroke intervention is safe and effective, with favorable clinical outcomes.