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Optical coherence tomography: a new method to assess aneurysm healing
William E Thorell1, Michael M Chow, Richard A Prayson
1Department of Neurosurgery, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation 44195, USA.
Journal of Neurosurgery
|March 3, 2005
Summary
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may help assess healing after cerebral aneurysm coiling, potentially reducing the need for follow-up angiography. This imaging technique shows promise for understanding endovascular healing in aneurysms.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage impacts ~10/100,000 annually.
- Endovascular coil embolization is a growing treatment for cerebral aneurysms, but long-term durability and follow-up needs are under investigation.
- Current follow-up requires repeated angiography, highlighting a need for improved monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for visualizing and assessing healing at the neck of cerebral aneurysms treated with coil embolization.
- To determine if OCT can correlate with histological findings of aneurysm healing in a preclinical model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized vascular OCT probes adapted for cerebral circulation in a canine model with induced aneurysms.
- Coil embolization was performed on the created aneurysms.
- OCT imaging was used to visualize the aneurysm neck post-embolization and correlated with histological analysis.
Main Results:
- OCT successfully visualized the neck of coil-embolized aneurysms in the canine model.
- OCT images demonstrated changes that correlated with histological findings of tissue healing at the aneurysm neck.
- The study suggests OCT's capability to reflect the healing process of cerebral aneurysms.
Conclusions:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows potential to assess endovascular healing of cerebral aneurysms.
- OCT imaging may reduce the reliance on follow-up angiography for monitoring aneurysm treatment.
- Further in vivo investigation of OCT probes for cerebral aneurysm assessment is warranted.