Endovascular Management of Microcerebral Aneurysms with Diameter Smaller than 3  mm: Is It Feasible and Safe?

BACKGROUND: The neurosurgical management of microcerebral aneurysms with diameter smaller than 3 mm remains a great challenge as many complications can occur.

AIM: Our target was to assess the efficacy and usefulness of endovascular treatment of these lesions.

METHODS: We did a prospective and retrospective gathering of the results of endovascular treatments for a group of 16 patients with 16 microcerebral aneurysms. Four patients were treated by direct coil embolization, and 12 patients were managed by remodeling techniques.

RESULTS: Coil embolization was technically accessible in all cases. Initial complete occlusion is achieved in 12 patients. We did not face major technical complications such as aneurysmal rupture or coil migration during the endovascular management in 15 patients. Only in 1 case the second and last coil (2⁄1 mm) migrated distally and could not be retrieved. In this case clinical evidence of neurologic deterioration and weakness in left lower limb due to right anterior cerebral artery territory stroke was evidenced in the follow-up computed tomography scan. Follow-up clinical and radiological studies were available for 9 of 12 surviving patients and showed complete occlusion in 7 cases, and in 1 case aneurysm tiny recanalization was demonstrated after 1 year, which was retreated with complete occlusion, and in another case tiny aneurysm recanalization at the neck appeared after 2 years, which was left under observation.

CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment is a beneficial and effective therapeutic alternative to microsurgery for microaneurysms. The long-term assessment of endovascular management for these lesions was not included in that study.