The insidious appearance of the dissecting aneurysm: Imaging findings and related pathophysiology. A report of two cases

Interv Neuroradiol. 2016 Dec;22(6):638-642. doi: 10.1177/1591019916659265. Epub 2016 Aug 10.

Abstract

Intracranial dissecting aneurysms have been frequently reported to present with fairly challenging and time-variable imaging findings that can be mostly explained by the pathological mechanisms that underline the dissection. We present two cases of spontaneous dissecting aneurysm of the supraclinoid ICA, both clinically presenting with SAH, but characterized by different progression of clinical symptoms and imaging. However, in both cases an outpouch and a mild fusiform dilation of the supraclinoid ICA was present in the initial CTA performed after the occurrence of symptoms. These findings were well depicted by the MPR reformats performed retrospectively. We postulate that this finding may represent the point of initial transmural dissection and we recommend that careful analysis of the CTA MRP reformatted images should be performed in order to detect this finding promptly.

Keywords: CTA; Dissecting aneurysm; MPR reformat; supraclinoid ICA; transmural rupture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angiography, Digital Subtraction
  • Anterior Cerebral Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Anterior Cerebral Artery / physiopathology
  • Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / physiopathology*
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Computed Tomography Angiography
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging*
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / physiopathology
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / physiopathology