Analysis of closed-cell intracranial stent characteristics using cone-beam computed tomography with contrast material

The intracranial nitinol stent named the Enterprise Vascular Reconstruction Device has poor radiographic visibility. The characteristics of closed-cell intracranial stents were investigated and the efficacy of intraoperative stent visualization examined with the 80 kV high-resolution XperCT protocol, which is a flat detector C-arm volume acquisition functionality system integrated with the angiography equipment. We treated 39 aneurysms with stent-assisted coil embolization. The aneurysms were located on the internal carotid artery in 24 cases, the anterior communicating artery (AcomA) in three, the basilar artery (BA) in 10, and the vertebral artery in two. Intraoperative 80 kV XperCT was performed in all cases after deposition of the stent. We evaluated the coverage of the aneurysm neck, incomplete stent apposition (ISA), and shift of vessels. Accurate stent visualization was achieved in 29 of the 39 cases without coil and delivery wire artifact. Coverage of the aneurysm neck succeeded in 28 cases; there was one case of BA top Y-configuration stenting in which the stent was dislocated into the aneurysm. ISA was detected in nine cases, including seven kinks and one flattening in the carotid siphon and one kink in the BA top. We detected linearization of vessels due to stent deployment in three AcomA cases and three BA top cases. We conclude that intraoperative 80 kV XperCT is an efficient modality for the evaluation of ISA. Stent kinking in the carotid siphon and linearization in distal vessels can be detected with this protocol.