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PurposeMechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an effective treatment for patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke. However, recanalization fails in about 16.5% of interventions. We report our experience with unsuccessful MT and analyze technical reasons plus patient-related parameters for failure.MethodsFive hundred ninety-six patients with acute ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation and intention to perform MT with an aspiration catheter and/or stent retriever were analyzed. Failure was defined as 0, 1, or 2a on the mTICI scale. Patients with failing MT were analyzed for interventional progress and compared to patients with successful intervention, whereby parameters included demographics, medical history, stroke presentation, and treatment.ResultsOne hundred of the 596 (16.8%) interventions failed. In 20 cases, thrombus could not be accessed or passed with the device. Peripheral arterial occlusive disease is common in those patients. In 80 patients, true stent retriever failure occurred. In this group, coagulation disorders are associated with poor results, whereas atrial fibrillation is associated with success.The administration of intravenous thrombolysis and intake of nitric oxide donors are associated with recanalization success. Intervention duration was significantly longer in the failing group.ConclusionIn 20% of failing MT, thrombus cannot be reached/passed. Direct carotid puncture or surgical arterial access could be considered in these cases.In 80% of failing interventions, thrombus can be passed with the device, but the occluded vessel cannot be recanalized. Rescue techniques can be an option. Development of new devices and techniques is necessary to improve recanalization rates. Assessment of pre-existing illness could sensitize for occurring complications.

Only 2–5% of patients who have a stroke receive thrombolytic treatment, mainly because of delay in reaching the hospital. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a new approach of diagnosis and treatment starting at the emergency site, rather than after hospital arrival, in reducing delay in stroke therapy. We did a randomised single-centre controlled trial to compare the time from alarm (emergency call) to therapy decision between mobile stroke unit (MSU) and hospital intervention. For inclusion in our study patients needed to be aged 18–80 years and have one or more stroke symptoms that started within the previous 2·5 h. In accordance with our week-wise randomisation plan, patients received either prehospital stroke treatment in a specialised ambulance (equipped with a CT scanner, point-of-care laboratory, and telemedicine connection) or optimised conventional hospital-based stroke treatment (control group) with a 7 day follow-up. Allocation was not masked from patients and investigators. Our primary endpoint was time from alarm to therapy decision, which was analysed with the Mann-Whitney U test. Our secondary endpoints included times from alarm to end of CT and to end of laboratory analysis, number of patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis, time from alarm to intravenous thrombolysis, and neurological outcome. We also assessed safety endpoints. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00153036. We stopped the trial after our planned interim analysis at 100 of 200 planned patients (53 in the prehospital stroke treatment group, 47 in the control group), because we had met our prespecified criteria for study termination. Prehospital stroke treatment reduced the median time from alarm to therapy decision substantially: 35 min (IQR 31–39) versus 76 min (63–94), p<0·0001; median difference 41 min (95% CI 36–48 min). We also detected similar gains regarding times from alarm to end of CT, and alarm to end of laboratory analysis, and to intravenous thrombolysis for eligible ischaemic stroke patients, although there was no substantial difference in number of patients who received intravenous thrombolysis or in neurological outcome. Safety endpoints seemed similar across the groups. For patients with suspected stroke, treatment by the MSU substantially reduced median time from alarm to therapy decision. The MSU strategy offers a potential solution to the medical problem of the arrival of most stroke patients at the hospital too late for treatment. Ministry of Health of the Saarland, Germany, the Werner-Jackstädt Foundation, the Else-Kröner-Fresenius Foundation, and the Rettungsstiftung Saar.

Flow diverter stents (FDS) are well established in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms which are difficult to treat with conventional endovascular techniques. However, they carry a relatively high risk of specific complications compared to conventional stents. A minor but frequent finding is the occurrence of reversible in-stent-stenosis (ISS) that tend to resolve spontaneously over time. Here, we report the case of a patient in their 30s who was treated with FDS for bilateral paraophthalmic internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. ISS were found at the respective early follow-up examinations on both sides and had resolved at the 1-year follow-up examinations. Surprisingly ISS reoccurred at both sides in later follow-up examinations and again resolved spontaneously. The recurrence of ISS after resolution is a finding that has not been described previously. Its incidence and further development should be investigated systematically. This might contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effect of FDS.

Introduction To assess the value of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurements at different time points to predict the malignant evolution in middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction and to investigate the relationship between ONSD and infarct volume on follow-up computed tomography (CT). Methods In a single-center prospective observational study, we recruited patients with MCA infarction and age- and sex-matched controls. Clinical characteristics including NationaI Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and ONSD measurement were assessed during the first five days after symptom onset. Volumetric analysis of the infarction was performed by a neuroradiologist, who was blinded to results of ONSD measurement and clinical examinations, based on  CT scans. Results We enrolled 29 patients with MCA infarction, including 10 with malignant MCA (mMCA) infarction and 14 controls. Mean ONSD on admission was already larger in patients who had developed an mMCA (5.99 ± 0.32 mm) compared to patients with MCA infarction (4.98 ± 0.53 mm; P  = 0.003), and to control patients (4.57 ± 0.29 mm; P  < 0.001). Correlation was observed between the ONSD mean value bilateral measures per individual and volumetric evaluation of cerebral infarction in the CT scan after one day (r = 0.623; P  = 0.002). An ONSD value of 5.6 mm predicted an mMCA with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 90% yielding a positive predictive value of 83% and negative predictive value of 100%. Conclusions ONSD measurement might be accurate for the noninvasive detection of increased ICP and for the recognition of patients being likely to develop mMCA.

The association between myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and Behçet syndrome (BS) is recognized for over 25 years. High frequency of trisomy 8 and intestinal ulcers are striking features of this association. There are no recommendations for how these patients should be treated. A systematic literature review was performed in PubMed using the keyword combination “(((intestinal) OR gastrointestinal) OR ulcer) OR Behcet*)) AND ((myelodysplastic syndrome) OR MDS)” in March 2019. Our aim was to gain insight regarding clinical responses to individual treatment modalities. A recent case was also presented and included in the analysis. Data from 41 articles reporting on a total of 53 patients carried adequate information to assess treatment responses. Glucocorticoids provided benefit in 23 of 43 patients. Azacitidine, decitabine, thalidomide, and cyclosporine contributed to a clinical improvement in 4/6, 2/3, 3/4, and 5/8 patients respectively. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was successful in 9 of 13 patients. With the use of TNF inhibitors, azathioprine, and mesalamine derivatives, clinical improvement was observed in 3/11, 0/4, and 6/18 patients respectively. Patients with MDS and BS-like features who are resistant to glucocorticoids have so far benefited more from treatment approaches directed at MDS, rather than the immunosuppressive agents used for BS.

Background This study aimed to demonstrate that the material of the occlusal splint can be chosen according to the needs of individual patients and contribute to the knowledge of the wear rate of these materials. Methods In this study, four occlusal splint materials (Sr Ivocap Heat Cured, Valplast, SR Ivocap Elastomer and Eclipse) and three antagonists (natural tooth enamel, inCoris TZI and IPS e.max Press ceramic materials) were used. Each wear test was performed using a chewing simulator ( n  = 16; test load: 50 N; number of cycles: 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000; continuous rinsing with water at 30 °C for the wet condition). The Shapiro Wilk test was used for normal distribution suitability. Antagonist on average wear quantities both main effects and interactions of material, cycle and condition factors were investigated by Univariate variance analysis. Multiple comparisons were examined using the Games-Howell test. Results There was a statistically significant effect of the difference in materials on the amount of wear ( p  < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference among the mean values of all materials ( p  > 0.001). The highest mean value was obtained with Eclipse (0,318 μm 3 ), and the lowest mean value was obtained with Valplast (0,134 μm 3 ). Conclusion Our study found differences in the in vitro wear rate among various occlusal splint materials.

fusion-associated carcinomas of the sinonasal tract are exceedingly rare, with fewer than 100 cases reported worldwide, but probably underrecognized. Recently classified by the WHO as a distinct provisional subtype of non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, these tumors pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Their histological resemblance to inverted papillomas and their bland histology in most cases often leads to misdiagnosis, while their aggressive behavior underscores the need for a tailored treatment approach. We report two cases of fusion-associated carcinomas managed at Saarland University Medical Center. The first case involved a 46-year-old woman who initially presented with recurrent sinonasal inverted papilloma, confirmed through multiple surgical interventions over nearly a decade. In 2023, reevaluation and genetic analysis revealed a fusion. The patient demonstrated an exceptional response to three cycles of neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin, achieving complete remission on MRI restaging. This allowed a shift to definitive chemoradiotherapy, with sustained disease-free status confirmed by a PET-CT three months post-treatment in July 2024. The second case involved a 66-year-old woman presenting with recurrent inverted papilloma affecting the sinonasal and tympanic regions. Despite multiple surgeries, malignant transformation to invasive squamous cell carcinoma occurred, with lymph node metastasis and intracranial spread. A combined otolaryngological and neurosurgical approach was undertaken, but the disease progressed. The patient passed away in January 2020, with postmortem review of the prior histology and genetic analysis confirming fusion carcinoma that showed bland-looking papilloma-like morphology in the initial specimens and later a high-grade cytology indicating biological progression to poorly differentiated carcinoma. These cases highlight the aggressive nature of fusion-associated carcinomas and the critical role of genetic profiling in diagnosis and management. The exceptional, first ever reported response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in one case underscores the potential for personalized treatment strategies, warranting further investigation into targeted therapies for this rare malignancy.

BackgroundTandem occlusions can complicate medical and endovascular stroke treatment. To identify these occlusions, computed tomography angiography (CTA) represents the best imaging modality. However, CTA is still not initially performed in some patients not admitted directly to stroke centers. Early identification of an additional occlusion of the proximal extracranial internal carotid artery may improve the best suitable treatment strategy. The purpose of this study was to find a valuable threshold of thrombus attenuation in a non-contrast head CT (NCCT) scan to facilitate a safe diagnosis of tandem occlusions.Materials and methodsConsecutive patients with acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions who underwent endovascular treatment were identified from our registry of neuroendovascular interventions. Thrombus attenuations of the affected MCA and contralateral vessel were measured by NCCT. To compare individual baseline blood attenuations, the difference between the thrombus attenuation and the contralateral MCA attenuation (referred to as ΔTM) was calculated.ResultsThree hundred and twenty-five patients were included. There was a highly significant difference between mean thrombus attenuation with isolated MCA occlusion and additional extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion (49.9 ± 8 vs. 56.2 ± 10 Hounsfield units (HU); P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of ΔTM was 0.72. The optimal threshold value was 13.5 HU, with a sensitivity of 67.5% and a specificity of 68.6%.ConclusionDespite a significant difference in thrombus attenuation in MCA occlusions with an additional extracranial ICA occlusion compared with isolated MCA occlusions, a relevant threshold of thrombus attenuation was not found.

Background Stroke is among the most common causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite the relevance of stroke-related disease burden, which is constantly increasing due to the demographic change in industrialized countries with an ageing population and consecutively an increase in age-associated diseases, there is sparse evidence concerning acute stroke treatment and treatment-related outcome in the elderly patient group. This retrospective study aimed at analysing patient characteristics, therapy-related complications and functional outcome in stroke patients aged 90 years or older who underwent acute stroke treatment (i.e. intravenous thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, or both). Methods We identified files of all inpatient stays at the Department of Neurology at Saarland University Medical Center (tertiary care level with a comprehensive stroke unit) between June 2011 and December 2018 and filtered for subjects aged 90 years or older at the time of admission. We reviewed patient files for demographic data, symptoms upon admission, (main) diagnoses, comorbidities, and administered therapies. For patients admitted due to acute stroke we reviewed files for therapy-related complications and functional outcome. We compared the modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores upon admission and at discharge for these patients. Results We identified 566 inpatient stays of subjects aged 90 years or older. Three hundred sixty-seven of the 566 patients (64.8%) were admitted and discharged due to symptoms indicative of stroke. Two hundred eleven patients received a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke. These 211 patients were analysed subsequently. Sixty-four patients qualified for acute stroke treatment (intravenous thrombolysis n  = 22, mechanical thrombectomy n  = 26, intravenous thrombolysis followed by mechanical thrombectomy n  = 16) and showed a significant improvement in their functional status as measured by change in mRS score (admission vs. discharge, p 0.001) with 7 (10.9%) observed potentially therapy-related complications (relevant drop in haemoglobin n  = 2, subarachnoidal haemorrhage n  = 1, cerebral haemorrhage n  = 3, extracranial bleeding n = 1). One intravenous thrombolysis was stopped because of an uncontrollable hypertensive crisis. Patients who did not qualify for these treatments (including those declining acute treatment) did not show a change of their functional status between admission and discharge (p 0.064). Conclusion Our data indicate that acute stroke treatment is effective and safe in the oldest old. Age alone is no criterion to withhold an acute intervention even in oldest old stroke patients.

Purpose Treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms using the Woven Endobridge (WEB) device has become broadly accepted. Feared complications with the potential of increased poor clinical outcome include dislocations and migration of the device. This study was carried out to determine the effectiveness of a variety of different strategies to rescue migrated WEB devices. Methods In a porcine model, WEB devices of different sizes (SL [single layer] 3.5 × 2mm and SL 4.0 × 3 mm, SL 8 × 5 mm and SLS 8 mm [single layer spherical]) were placed into both the subclavian and axillary arteries. A total of 32 rescue maneuvers (8 per rescue device) were performed. Small WEBs were rescued using reperfusion catheters (RC) (SOFIA Plus and JET 7), larger WEBs were rescued using dedicated rescue devices (Microsnare and Alligator). Rescue rates, times, attempts and complications were assessed. Results Rescue attempts of migrated WEBs were successful in all cases (100%). Rescue time ( p  = 0.421) and attempts ( p  = 0.619) of small WEBs using RCs were comparable without significant differences. Aspiration alone was not successful for larger WEBs. Rescue of larger WEBs was slightly faster (122.75 ± 41.15 s vs. 137.50 ± 54.46 s) with fewer attempts (1 vs. 1.37) when using the Microsnare compared to the Alligator device. Complications such as entrapment of the WEB in the RCs, vasospasm, perforation, or dissection were not observed. Conclusion Rescue of migrated WEB devices is a feasible and effective method and 100% successful rescue rates and appropriate rescue times can be achieved for small WEBs using RCs and for larger WEBs using dedicated rescue devices (Microsnare and Alligator).