Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Sep 2018
Multicenter StudyEndovascular Treatment of Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion: Registro Endovascolare Lombardo Occlusione Basilar Artery (RELOBA) Study Group Experience.
Acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is considered among the most severe medical emergencies, with very high morbidity and mortality. The aims of this study are to present 5 years experience of 12 centers in Lombardy region on BAO endovascular treatment and to evaluate prognostic factors that may improve clinical outcomes and recanalization rates. ⋯ BAO treatment needs more efforts to assure patients better clinical outcomes. Mechanical thrombectomy is feasible and effective in patients with acute BAO. These results must be confirmed by further prospective studies within randomized controlled settings.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Sep 2018
Comparative StudyEvaluation of Intraplaque Neovascularization Using Superb Microvascular Imaging and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography.
Several studies have shown a linkage between intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) and plaque instability. Although contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) may help visualize IPN in the carotid artery, its benefits are limited in Japan, where there is no health insurance coverage for contrast agents in medical imaging. Superb microvascular imaging (SMI), however, enables the depiction of low-velocity blood flow. The current study compares the diagnostic accuracy of SMI and CEUS in the evaluation of IPN. ⋯ The results of this study show that patients with SMI-detected blood flow will tend to have plaque enhancement using CEUS. This suggests that SMI, as a simpler, safer, and noninvasive technique, can facilitate the visualization of carotid artery IPN without the use of a contrast agent, as well as in the clinical evaluation of plaque instability.