Endovascular coil embolization for anterior choroidal artery aneurysms

We retrospectively evaluated the ischemic complications related to the anterior choroidal artery (AChA) and clinical outcome after coiling of AChA aneurysms.

We included 37 patients (27 with subarachnoid hemorrhage, 10 without) harboring 38 AChA aneurysms (23 ruptured, 15 unruptured) who were treated by coiling at four institutions. Ischemic complications related to the AChA and clinical outcomes were retrospectively evaluated.

Intraprocedural transient AChA occlusion occurred in five aneurysms, all of which had AChA incorporated into the aneurysm neck. Two of the five patients suffered postprocedural transient contralateral hemiparesis, but recovered completely. The remaining three patients had no postprocedural symptoms. Incidence of transient AChA occlusion was significantly higher in those aneurysms in which the AChA was incorporated into aneurysm neck (group 2) than in those in which the AChA was not incorporated (group 1). Of the 37 patients, 31 (83.8%) had good recoveries (modified Rankin scale score 0-2). Two patients died from the consequences of subarachnoid hemorrhage. During follow-up for a mean of 27 months (range 4-72 months), none of the 35 living patients re-bled. A total of 29 aneurysms in 28 patients were followed-up angiographically. Recurrences were found in 5 of the 29 aneurysms during follow-up (mean 18 months, range 6-45 months). Re-embolization achieved near complete occlusion of two recurrent aneurysms, both of which were still stable at the time of the next two follow-up angiographies. The other three recurrent aneurysms were not retreated due to the small size of the recurrences.

Coiling of AChA aneurysms resulted in good outcomes without AChA-related permanent ischemic complications. Transient AChA occlusion, potentially associated with ischemic complications, was significantly more frequent in the aneurysm in which the AChA was incorporated into the aneurysm neck.