Long-term catheter angiography after aneurysm coil therapy: results of 209 patients and predictors of delayed recurrence and retreatment

J Neurosurg. 2014 Nov;121(5):1102-6. doi: 10.3171/2014.7.JNS132433. Epub 2014 Sep 5.

Abstract

Object: Aneurysm recurrence after coil therapy remains a major shortcoming in the endovascular management of cerebral aneurysms. The need for long-term imaging follow-up was recently investigated. This study assessed the diagnostic yield of long-term digital subtraction angiography (DSA) follow-up and determined predictors of delayed aneurysm recurrence and retreatment.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) available short-term and long-term (> 36 months) follow-up DSA images, and 2) no or only minor aneurysm recurrence (not requiring further intervention, i.e., < 20%) documented on short-term follow-up DSA images.

Results: Of 209 patients included in the study, 88 (42%) presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. On shortterm follow-up DSA images, 158 (75%) aneurysms showed no recurrence, and 51 (25%) showed minor recurrence (< 20%, not retreated). On long-term follow-up DSA images, 124 (59%) aneurysms showed no recurrence, and 85 (41%) aneurysms showed recurrence, of which 55 (26%) required retreatment. In multivariate analysis, the predictors of recurrence on long-term follow-up DSA images were as follows: 1) larger aneurysm size (p = 0.001), 2) male sex (p = 0.006), 3) conventional coil therapy (p = 0.05), 4) aneurysm location (p = 0.01), and 5) a minor recurrence on short-term follow-up DSA images (p = 0.007). Ruptured aneurysm status was not a predictive factor. The sensitivity of short-term follow-up DSA studies was only 40.0% for detecting delayed aneurysm recurrence and 45.5% for detecting delayed recurrence requiring further treatment.

Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the importance of long-term angiographic follow-up after coil therapy for ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Predictors of delayed recurrence and retreatment include large aneurysms, recurrence on short-term follow-up DSA images (even minor), male sex, and conventional coil therapy.

Keywords: DSA = digital subtraction angiography; angiography; coil therapy; interventional neurosurgery; intracranial aneurysm; recurrence; vascular disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Angiography / methods*
  • Angiography, Digital Subtraction
  • Catheterization, Central Venous / methods*
  • Endovascular Procedures / methods*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / surgery*
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Recurrence
  • Reoperation
  • Retrospective Studies