Analysis of Morphological-Hemodynamic Risk Factors for Aneurysm Rupture Including a Newly Introduced Total Volume Ratio

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate morphological and hemodynamic factors, including the newly developed total volume ratio (TVR), in evaluating rupture risk of cerebral aneurysms using ≥7 mm sized aneurysms. Twenty-three aneurysms (11 unruptured and 12 ruptured) ≥ 7 mm were analyzed from 3-dimensional rotational cerebral angiography and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Ten morphological and eleven hemodynamic factors of the aneurysms were qualitatively and quantitatively compared. Correlation analysis between morphological and hemodynamic factors was performed, and the relationship among the hemodynamic factors was analyzed. Morphological factors (ostium diameter, ostium area, aspect ratio, and bottleneck ratio) and hemodynamic factors (TVR, minimal wall shear stress of aneurysms, time-averaged wall shear stress of aneurysms, oscillatory shear index, relative residence time, low wall shear stress area, and ratio of low wall stress area) were statistically different between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms (p < 0.05). By simple regression analysis, the morphological factor aspect ratio and the hemodynamic factor TVR were significantly correlated (r2 = 0.602, p = 0.001). Ruptured aneurysms had complex and unstable flow. In ≥7 mm ruptured aneurysms, high aspect ratio, bottleneck ratio, complex flow, unstable flow, low TVR, wall shear stress at aneurysm, high oscillatory shear index, relative resistance time, low wall shear stress area, and ratio of low wall stress area were significant in determining the risk of aneurysm rupture.