Abstract
Purpose
Basilar artery thrombosis represents a rare type of ischaemic stroke with a mortality rate of 80%–90% if not promptly treated. The aim of our study was to review our experience with computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the diagnosis of basilar artery thrombosis and its treatment with endovascular procedures.
Materials and methods
Our retrospective study is based upon 59 nontrauma patients with episodes of sudden loss of consciousness. Patients were investigated using unenhanced brain CT followed by intracranial CTA (16-slice CT) when no parenchymal haemorrhage was detected. Patients with a CTA diagnosis of basilar artery thrombosis were considered for endovascular treatment. CTA accuracy was evaluated by considering the 12 patients who underwent endovascular angiography (the gold standard). The success of endovascular therapy was evaluated by considering the degree of microcirculatory reperfusion.
Results
After the exclusion of 33 patients affected by parenchymal or subarachnoid haemorrhage, the final study consisted of 26 patients who underwent CTA. Basilar artery thrombosis was diagnosed in 15 of them, and 12 were treated at our institution. The comparison between CTA and endovascular angiography showed 100% agreement in evaluating occlusion site and extension. Seven patients underwent intra-arterial lysis, and five underwent mechanical clot removal.
Conclusions
CTA, with its wide availability and rapid execution times, is the most indicated examination in the case of suspected basilar artery thrombosis. Although there is a lack of randomised controlled prospective studies suggesting the most appropriate therapeutic approach to basilar artery thrombosis, our study lends weight to the role of interventional neuroradiology in the treatment of this condition.
Riassunto
Obiettivo
La trombosi dell’arteria basilare rappresenta una rara forma di ictus, gravata da una mortalità dell’80%–90% in assenza di trattamento. Scopo di questo lavoro è riportare la nostra esperienza nella diagnosi con angio-TC e nel trattamento endovascolare di questa grave tipologia di ictus.
Materiali e metodi
Questo studio retrospettivo considera 59 pazienti non traumatizzati con rapida compromissione dello stato di coscienza sottoposti a TC dell’encefalo senza mezzo di contrasto ed, esclusa un’emorragia parenchimale, ad angio-TC del circolo intracranico (tomografo a 16 detettori). I pazienti con diagnosi angio-TC di trombosi dell’arteria basilare sono stati considerati per il trattamento endovascolare. L’accuratezza diagnostica dell’angio-TC è stata valutata considerando i 12 pazienti che hanno eseguito lo studio angiografico, assunto quale gold-standard. Il successo delle procedure interventistiche è stato valutato considerando il grado di riperfusione del microcircolo.
Risultati
Esclusi i pazienti con diagnosi di emorragia parenchimale e subaracnoidea la casistica è costituita da 26 pazienti sottoposti ad angio-TC, sono stati diagnosticati 15 casi di trombosi della basilare, dei quali 12 trattati presso il nostro ospedale. Il confronto dei reperti angio-TC ed angiografici è sempre stato concordante per sede ed estensione dell’occlusione. Sono state eseguite 7 procedure di lisi intrarteriosa e 5 di rimozione meccanica del trombo.
Conclusioni
Lo studio angio-TC per disponibilità sul territorio e rapidità di esecuzione rappresenta l’esame più indicato per confermare, nel più breve tempo possibile, un sospetto clinico di trombosi di basilare. Pur in assenza di studi prospettici randomizzati e controllati per indicare l’approccio terapeutico ottimale, la nostra esperienza avvalora il ruolo delle tecniche di neuroradiologia interventistica.
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Bonatti, G., Ferro, F., Haglmüller, T. et al. Basilar artery thrombosis: imaging and endovascular therapy. Radiol med 115, 1219–1233 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-010-0568-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-010-0568-2