Long-term Clinical and Angiographic Results of Neuroform Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization in Wide-Necked Intracranial Aneurysms

BACKGROUND: Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization facilitates the endovascular treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. However, the safety and efficacy of its long-term use have not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively examine the long-term results of Neuroform stent usage in conjunction with coil embolization in wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Between November 2002 and December 2010, 79 patients harboring wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated with use of the Neuroform stent. The stenting procedure failed in 2 patients. Therefore, 77 patients harboring 79 intracranial aneurysms were included for analysis. Patient and aneurysm characteristics, progression of aneurysm occlusion, and occurrence of complications were analyzed. Follow-up imaging included digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Kaplan-Meier analysis, as well as univariate analysis were performed to determine the progression of aneurysm occlusion and to examine the predictive factors for complete aneurysm occlusion, respectively. RESULTS: Overall, complete aneurysm occlusion was observed in 42.4% of the cases immediately after treatment and progressed to 96.5% at 7-year follow-up. The mean angiographic follow-up time was 25.8 months (range, 0-84 months). Eleven aneurysms (14%) were re-treated. Sixty-eight patients (88.3%) had favorable clinical outcome with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) <= 1, 3 patients (3.9%) had an mRS of 2, and 5 patients (6.5%) did not have a clinical follow-up. The mean clinical follow-up time was 45.4 months (range, 3-92 months). One patient (1.3%) died of a procedure-related hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms prevents hemorrhage and provides a high rate of aneurysm occlusion at long-term follow-up.