Safety Assessment of Endovascular Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms in Patients with Fibromuscular Dysplasia

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of cerebral aneurysms is increased in fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). The presence of FMD may serve as discouragement to elective endovascular aneurysm treatment. Outcomes of endovascular intervention for aneurysms through vessels affected by FMD have not been reported. Methods: A prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing intracranial embolization was reviewed for patients with FMD who underwent endovascular aneurysm treatment. Results: A total of 1,025 patients were screened and 31 (3.0%) had cerebrovascular FMD. These patients underwent a total of 43 embolization procedures; 27 of these procedures were performed through an affected vessel. All but 1 patient were female and the average age was 62 years. “String-of-pearls”-type FMD was the most common subtype (90%). The internal carotid arteries were more commonly affected (65%) than the vertebral arteries (48%). All patients underwent treatment of cerebral aneurysms, most of which (87%) were incidentally discovered; 6 patients (19%) also had incidental vessel dissection. The average aneurysm size was 7.1 mm. The morphology was saccular in 93% of the cases, and 86% were in the anterior circulation. The most commonly performed treatment was flow diversion (67%), in the majority of cases by pipeline embolization. Other procedures performed were coiling (19%), stent-coiling (12%), and intrasaccular flow disruption (2%). All but 1 procedure (98%) were successful. There were no major complications; 1 patient experienced a transient ischemic attack. Follow-up angiography was performed in 88% of the cases, without evidence for disease progression after treatment. The average time to last angiographic follow-up was 17 months (±13). Conclusions: Elective embolization of intracranial aneurysms can be performed safely through vessels affected by FMD.