- HARMless: Transient Cortical and Sulcal Hyperintensity on Gadolinium-Enhanced FLAIR after Elective Endovascular Coiling of Intracranial Aneurysms
The authorsconducted a retrospective review of 58 patients with 62 MR imaging studies performed within 72 hours following endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Patient demographics, aneurysm location, and vascular territory distribution of cortical and sulcalhyperintensity on gadolinium-enhanced FLAIR were documented. Cortical and sulcalhyperintensity on gadolinium-enhanced FLAIR was found in 51.61% of post-endovascular treatment MR imaging studies, with complete resolution of findings in all patients on the available follow-up studies (27/27). Angiographic iodinated contrast medium injection and arterial anatomy matched the vascular distribution of cortical and sulcalhyperintensity on gadolinium-enhanced FLAIR. Thishyperintensity is a transient observation in the arterial territory exposed to iodinated contrast medium during endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms, and is significantly associated with procedural time and the frequency of angiographic runs, suggesting a potential technical influence on the breakdown of the BBB.