Hemodynamic changes after intracranial aneurysm growth.

Objective: For accurate risk assessment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms that lead to rupture. It is known that hemodynamic anomalies contribute to aneurysm growth and rupture, and that growing aneurysms carry higher rupture risks. However, it is unknown how growth affects hemodynamic characteristics.

External Validation of the ELAPSS Score for Prediction of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm Growth Risk.

Background And Purpose: Prediction of intracranial aneurysm growth risk can assist physicians in planning of follow-up imaging of conservatively managed unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We therefore aimed to externally validate the ELAPSS (Earlier subarachnoid hemorrhage, aneurysm Location, Age, Population, aneurysm Size and Shape) score for prediction of the risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysm growth.

Methods: From 11 international cohorts of patients ≥18 years with ≥1 unruptured intracranial aneurysm and ≥6 months of radiological follow-up, we collected data on the predictors of the ELAPSS score, and calculated 3- and 5-year absolute growth risks according to the score.

Vessel wall enhancement of intracranial aneurysms: fact or artifact?

Objective: For patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and multiple intracranial aneurysms, it is often challenging to identify the ruptured aneurysm. Some investigators have asserted that vessel wall imaging (VWI) can be used to identify the ruptured aneurysm since wall enhancement after contrast agent injection is presumably related to inflammation in unstable and ruptured aneurysms. The aim of this study was to determine whether additional factors contribute to aneurysm wall enhancement by assessing imaging data in a series of patients.

Estimation of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture Risk with Biomechanical Imaging Markers.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the biomechanical marker known as rupture risk equivalent diameter (RRED) was superior to the actual abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) diameter in estimating future rupture risk in patients who had undergone pre-rupture computed tomography (CT) angiography.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 13 patients with ruptured AAAs who had undergone CT angiography before and after rupture between 2001 and 2015. The median time between the 2 scans was 731 days.

Radiological scales predicting delayed cerebral ischemia in subarachnoid hemorrhage: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a severe complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The extent of subarachnoid blood is a strong predictor of DCI and is frequently estimated with the Fisher scale, modified Fisher scale, or Hijdra sum score. It is unclear which scale has the strongest association with clinical DCI.

Additional value of biomechanical indices based on CTa for rupture risk assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: Biomechanics for rupture risk prediction in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are gaining popularity. However, their clinical applicability is still doubtful as there is lack of standardization. This study evaluates the added value of biomechanical indices in rupture risk assessment.

Quantification of abdominal aortic calcification: Inherent measurement errors in current computed tomography imaging.

Objective: Quantification software for coronary calcification is often used to measure abdominal aortic calcification on computed tomography (CT) images. However, there is no evidence substantiating the reliability and accuracy of these tools in this setting. Differences in coronary and abdominal CT acquisition and presence of intravascular contrast may affect the results of these tools.

Biomechanical Indices for Rupture Risk Estimation in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Purpose: To review the use of biomechanical indices for the estimation of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture risk, emphasizing their potential use in a clinical setting.

Methods: A search of the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Compendex databases was made up to June 2015 to identify articles involving biomechanical analysis of AAA rupture risk. Outcome variables [aneurysm diameter, peak wall stress (PWS), peak wall shear stress (PWSS), wall strain, peak wall rupture index (PWRI), and wall stiffness] were compared for asymptomatic intact AAAs vs symptomatic or ruptured AAAs.

Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Blob-Based Time-of-Flight PET Image Reconstruction in Hybrid Brain PET/MR Imaging.

Purpose: Many neurological diseases affect small structures in the brain and, as such, reliable visual evaluation and accurate quantification are required. Recent technological developments made the clinical use of hybrid positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) systems possible, providing both functional and anatomical information in a single imaging session. Nevertheless, there is a trade-off between spatial resolution and image quality (contrast and noise), which is dictated mainly by the chosen acquisition and reconstruction protocols.