Skip to main content
Log in

Endovascular treatment for aneurysms at the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery: current difficulties and solutions

  • Review article
  • Published:
Acta Neurologica Belgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aneurysms located at the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery are considered rare and unique entities. Endovascular treatment (EVT) is effective in preventing aneurysmal bleeding. However, EVT for A1 aneurysms is difficult due to their distinctive configurations. A current review of EVT for A1 aneurysms is lacking. Therefore, we focused on the available literature on this specific issue. To more clearly expound this entity, we also provided some illustrative cases. The A1 segment can be equally divided into the proximal, middle, and distal segments. Proximal aneurysms are most common and difficult to treat via EVT. The A1 segment has a complex anatomy and many important branches. Due to the small size, predominant posterior direction, and sharp upturn of the microcatheter from the parent artery, microcatheter positioning and support is difficult for A1 aneurysms. EVT for A1 aneurysms mainly includes reconstructive and deconstructive strategies. The complications of EVT for A1 aneurysms include aneurysmal perforation, thromboembolic events, and coil protrusion related to stent-assisted embolization. A1 aneurysms represent rare and difficult vascular lesions. EVT is quite challenging for A1 aneurysms due to their distinctive configurations. The outcomes are acceptable.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rhoton AL Jr (2002) The supratentorial arteries. Neurosurgery 51:S53–S120

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kim MK, Lim YC (2019) Aneurysms of the proximal (A1) segment of the anterior cerebral artery: a clinical analysis of 31 cases. World Neurosurg 127:e488–e496

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Maiti TK, Bir S, Konar S, Bollam P, Cuellar-Saenz HH, Nanda A (2016) Management of proximal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms: anatomical variations and technical nuances. World Neurosurg 85:85–95

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Suzuki M, Onuma T, Sakurai Y, Mizoi K, Ogawa A, Yoshimoto T (1992) Aneurysms arising from the proximal (A1) segment of the anterior cerebral artery. A study of 38 cases. J Neurosurg 76:455–458

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Yu B, Wu Z, Lv X, Liu Y, Sang M (2010) Endovascular treatment of A1 segment aneurysms of the anterior cerebral artery. Neurol India 58:446–448

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Alurkar A, Karanam LS, Nayak S, Oak S (2012) Endovascular treatment of A1 aneurysms. A series of five cases with a brief literature review. Neuroradiol J 25:533–540

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dashti R, Hernesniemi J, Lehto H, Niemela M, Lehecka M, Rinne J et al (2007) Microneurosurgical management of proximal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms. Surg Neurol 68:366–377

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Rhoton AL Jr (2007) The cerebrum. Anatomy. Neurosurgery 61:37–118 (discussion -9)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Perlmutter D, Rhoton AL Jr (1976) Microsurgical anatomy of the anterior cerebral-anterior communicating-recurrent artery complex. J Neurosurg 45:259–272

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Maga P, Tomaszewski KA, Krzyzewski RM, Golec J, Depukat P, Gregorczyk-Maga I et al (2013) Branches and arterial supply of the recurrent artery of Heubner. Anat Sci Int 88:223–229

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lehecka M, Niemela M, Hernesniemi J (2010) Surgical management of anterior cerebral artery aneurysms of the proximal (A1) segment. World Neurosurg 74:439–440

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Aso K, Kashimura H, Takeda M, Chida K (2015) An unusual variant of the common trunk of the fronto-orbital and frontopolar arteries associated with a ruptured aneurysm of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery. Surg Neurol Int 6:S418–S420

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Li K, Guo Y, Qu L, Xu B, Xu K, Yu J (2018) Hybrid surgery for an arteriovenous malformation fed by an accessory middle cerebral artery and drained by a developmental venous anomaly: a case report and literature review. Exp Ther Med 16:1994–2000

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Fujiwara K, Saito K, Ebina T (2003) Saccular aneurysm of the accessory middle cerebral artery—case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 43:31–34

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hong SK (1997) Ruptured proximal anterior cerebral artery (A1) aneurysm located at an anomalous branching of the fronto-orbital artery—a case report. J Korean Med Sci 12:576–580

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Sato Y, Kashimura H, Takeda M, Chida K, Kubo Y, Ogasawara K (2015) Aneurysm of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery associated with the persistent primitive olfactory artery. World Neurosurg 84(2079):e7–e9

    Google Scholar 

  17. Horie N, Morikawa M, Fukuda S, Hayashi K, Suyama K, Nagata I (2012) New variant of persistent primitive olfactory artery associated with a ruptured aneurysm. J Neurosurg 117:26–28

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang HW, Xue Z, Ma YD, Sun ZH, Wu C (2019) The special considerations in the surgical management of proximal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms. World Neurosurg 127:e761–e767

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Lee JM, Joo SP, Kim TS, Go EJ, Choi HY, Seo BR (2010) Surgical management of anterior cerebral artery aneurysms of the proximal (A1) segment. World Neurosurg 74:478–482

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Salunke P, Malik V, Yogesh N, Khandelwal NK, Mathuriya SN (2010) Mirror-like aneurysms of proximal anterior cerebral artery: report of a case and review of literature. Br J Neurosurg 24:686–687

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Koh JS, Kim EJ, Lee SH, Bang JS (2009) Ruptured aneurysm arising from the distal end of a proximal a(1) fenestration: case report and review of the literature. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 45:43–45

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Koh JS, Lee SH, Bang JS, Kim GK (2008) Three-dimensional angiographic demonstration of plexiform fenestrations of the proximal anterior cerebral artery associated with a ruptured aneurysm. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 44:338–340

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Amagasaki K, Yagishita T, Kawataki T, Kase M, Nukui H (1998) Middle cerebral artery aplasia associated with an aneurysm of the proximal anterior cerebral artery. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 140:1313–1314

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Maurer J, Maurer E, Perneczky A (1991) Surgically verified variations in the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery. Report of two cases. J Neurosurg 75:950–953

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gill M, Maheshwari V, Mukherjee A, Gadhavi R (2019) Microvascular clipping of A1 segment aneurysms. Neurol India 67:1257–1263

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Bhaisora KS, Behari S, Prasadh G, Srivastava AK, Mehrotra A, Sahu RN et al (2014) A I-segment aneurysms: management protocol based on a new classification. Neurol India 62:410–416

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Jang CK, Jang EW, Cho KC, Suh SH, Chung J, Kim YB et al (2018) Radiographic and microsurgical characteristics of proximal (A1) segment aneurysms of the anterior cerebral artery. Neurol Sci 39:1735–1740

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wanibuchi M, Kurokawa Y, Ishiguro M, Fujishige M, Inaba K (2001) Characteristics of aneurysms arising from the horizontal portion of the anterior cerebral artery. Surg Neurol 55:148–154 (discussion 54-5)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Chang HW, Youn SW, Jung C, Kang HS, Sohn CH, Kwon BJ et al (2011) Technical strategy in endovascular treatment of proximal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 153:279–285

    Google Scholar 

  30. De Jesus O (1996) Giant aneurysm of the proximal anterior cerebral artery. Surg Neurol 46:553–556

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Wu SW, Chiu TL (2013) Dissecting aneurysm at the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery presenting as visual loss and visual field defect. Br J Neurosurg 27:822–823

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kumar R, Behari S, Singh K, Sahu RN, Jaiswal AK (2013) Trilobulated fusiform aneurysm from proximal fenestrated segment of dominant A1 causing subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neurol India 61:315–317

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Aoki Y, Nemoto M, Yokota K, Kano T, Goto S, Sugo N (2007) Ruptured fusiform aneurysm of the proximal anterior cerebral artery (A1 segment). Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 47:351–355

    Google Scholar 

  34. Nomura M, Kida S, Kita D, Higashi R, Hasegawa M, Matsui O et al (2000) Fusiform aneurysm of the proximal anterior cerebral artery (A1). Acta Neurochir (Wien) 142:1163–1164

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Iwashita T, Kitazawa K, Koyama J, Nagashima H, Koyama T, Tanaka Y et al (2005) A saccular-like dissecting aneurysm of the anterior cerebral artery that developed 2 years after an ischemic event. Surg Neurol 64:538–541 (discussion 41)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Yilmaz M, Kalemci O, Yurt A, Durmaz MO, Arda NM (2014) Treatment of aneurysms arising from the proximal (A1) segment of the anterior cerebral artery. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 14:8–11

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Singh V, Phadke RV (2016) Endovascular treatment of A1 segment aneurysms. Neurol India 64:701–702

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Hirao J, Okamoto H, Watanabe T, Asano S, Teraoka A (2001) Dissecting aneurysms at the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery—two case reports. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 41:271–278

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Ding X, Nisson PL, James WS, Lawton MT, Ren S, Jia L et al (2017) Aneurysms of the proximal segment of the anterior cerebral artery: a new classification system with corresponding therapeutic options. World Neurosurg 104:291–302

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Park J, Baik SK (2007) Posterior projecting carotid-A1 junctional aneurysms. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 149:817–821 (discussion 21)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Griffin A, Cutler A, Gonzalez LF (2019) Treatment of a fusiform anterior cerebral artery aneurysm by remodeling the circle of willis with flow diversion: a novel technical note. World Neurosurg 129:164–169

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Lubicz B, Bruneau M, Dewindt A, Lefranc F, Baleriaux D, De Witte O (2009) Endovascular treatment of proximal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms. Neuroradiology 51:99–102

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Lee HY, Ahn JS, Suh DC, Lee DH (2011) Z-shaped microcatheter tip shaping for embolization of aneurysms at the proximal A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery: a technical note. Neurointervention 6:95–99

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Cho YD, Ahn JH, Jung SC, Kim CH, Kang HS, Kim JE et al (2014) Coil embolization in precommunicating (A1) segment aneurysms of anterior cerebral artery. Neuroradiology 56:219–225

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Liu P, Lv X, Li Y, Lv M (2016) Endovascular treatment of A1 aneurysms of the anterior cerebral artery. Neurol India 64:694–700

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Ko JK, Cha SH, Lee TH, Choi CH, Lee SW, Lee JI (2013) Endovascular treatment of aneurysms arising from the proximal segment of the anterior cerebral artery. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 54:75–80

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Munich SA, Theessen H, Johnson AK, Lopes DK (2014) “Contrast-less” stent-assisted coiling of an A1 aneurysm. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 23:2283–2286

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Kwon HJ, Cho YD, Lim JW, Koh HS, Yoo DH, Kang HS et al (2018) Contralateral approach to coil embolization of proximal A1 aneurysms using the anterior communicating artery. Am J Neuroradiol 39:2297–2300

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Moret J, Ross IB, Weill A, Piotin M (2000) The retrograde approach: a consideration for the endovascular treatment of aneurysms. Am J Neuroradiol 21:262–268

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Mariniello G, Vecchione D, Di Martino G, Briganti F, Donzelli R, Maiuri F (2010) Fusiform aneurysm of the proximal anterior cerebral artery (A1). Cent Eur Neurosurg 71:96–98

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Shigemori M, Kawaba T, Yoshitake Y, Miyagi J, Kuramoto S (1988) Fusiform aneurysm of the proximal anterior cerebral artery. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 51:451

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Mitsuhara T, Ikawa F, Hidaka T, Kurokawa Y, Yonezawa U (2018) Ruptured dissecting aneurysms of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery: three case reports and a review of the literature. Neurosurg Rev 41:409–414

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Kashimura H, Mase T, Ogasawara K, Ogawa A, Endo H (2006) Trapping and vascular reconstruction for ruptured fusiform aneurysm in the proximal A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 46:340–343

    Google Scholar 

  54. Lv X, Li Y, Jiang C, Jiang P, Wu Z (2009) Dissecting aneurysm at the proximal anterior cerebral artery treated by parent artery occlusion. Interv Neuroradiol 15:123–126

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. van Rooij WJ, Sluzewski M (2010) Perforator infarction after placement of a pipeline flow-diverting stent for an unruptured A1 aneurysm. Am J Neuroradiol 31:E43–E44

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Mamadaliev D, Kato Y, Talari S, Mewada T, Yamada Y, Kei Y et al (2019) Unilateral fenestrated A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery multiple aneurysms: case reports and literature review. Asian J Neurosurg 14:957–960

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Mitsuhara T, Sakamoto S, Kiura Y, Kurisu K (2011) Endovascular coil embolization for ruptured kissing aneurysms associated with A1 fenestration. Surg Neurol Int 2:85

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  58. Friedlander RM, Oglivy CS (1996) Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in a patient with bilateral A1 fenestrations associated with an azygos anterior cerebral artery. Case report and literature review. J Neurosurg 84:681–684

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Mantatzis M, Kizilkilic O, Albayram S, Kocer N, Islak C (2011) Endovascular treatment of aneurysms associated with fenestrated A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery: report of two cases. J Neuroimaging 21:165–169

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Kachhara R, Nair S, Gupta AK (1998) Fenestration of the proximal anterior cerebral artery (A1) with aneurysm manifesting as subarachnoid hemorrhage—case report. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 38:409–412

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Akture E, Arat A, Niemann DB, Salamat MS, Baskaya MK (2012) Bilateral A1 fenestrations: report of two cases and literature review. Surg Neurol Int 3:43

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  62. Iwabuchi N, Saito A, Fujimoto K, Nakamura T, Sasaki T (2018) Unruptured saccular aneurysm arising from the fenestrated A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery: report of 2 cases. Case Rep Neurol 10:140–149

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  63. Gewirtz RJ, Awad IA (1993) Giant aneurysms of the proximal anterior cerebral artery: report of three cases. Neurosurgery 33:120–124 (discussion 4-5)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Kazumata K, Asaoka K, Yokoyama Y, Osanai T, Sugiyama T, Itamoto K (2011) Middle cerebral-anterior cerebral-radial artery interposition graft bypass for proximal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 51:661–663

    Google Scholar 

  65. Krafft PR, Yonas H, Carlson AP (2016) Near-complete resolution of clinical and radiographic findings after endovascular embolization of a giant serpentine A1 aneurysm. World Neurosurg 86(512):e9–e14

    Google Scholar 

  66. Gupta R, Horowitz MB, Gilman S (2006) Neuroform stent-assisted coil embolization of a ruptured A1 segment anterior cerebral artery aneurysm. J Neuroimaging 16:117–119

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Ji T, Guo Y, Huang X, Xu B, Xu K, Yu J (2017) Current status of the treatment of blood blister-like aneurysms of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery: a review. Int J Med Sci 14:390–402

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  68. Peschillo S, Cannizzaro D, Caporlingua A, Missori P (2016) A systematic review and meta-analysis of treatment and outcome of blister-like aneurysms. Am J Neuroradiol 37:856–861

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Nakai H, Kawata Y, Tamura Y, Tanaka T, Hodozuka A, Hashizume K et al (1999) A case of a traumatic anterior cerebral artery aneurysm following the penetration of the skull base by an iron rod. No Shinkei Geka 27:583–589

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Munakomi S, Tamrakar K, Chaudhary P, Bhattarai B, Cherian I (2015) Case report: traumatic anterior cerebral artery aneurysm in a 4-year old child. F1000Research 4:804

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Le Feuvre DE, Taylor AG (2011) The management of very small/blister internal carotid artery aneurysms. Interv Neuroradiol 17:431–434

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  72. Jia ZY, Shi HB, Miyachi S, Hwang SM, Sheen JJ, Song YS et al (2018) Development of new endovascular devices for aneurysm treatment. J Stroke 20:46–56

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  73. Pierot L, Moret J, Barreau X, Szikora I, Herbreteau D, Turjman F et al (2020) Aneurysm treatment with Woven EndoBridge in the cumulative population of 3 prospective, multicenter series: 2-year follow-up. Neurosurgery 87:357–367

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  74. Pagiola I, Mihalea C, Caroff J, Ikka L, Chalumeau V, Yasuda T et al (2019) Flow diversion treatment of aneurysms of the complex region of the anterior communicating artery: which stent placement strategy should ‘I’ use? A single center experience. J Neurointerv Surg 11:1118–1122

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Peschillo S, Miscusi M, Caporlingua A, Cannizzaro D, Santoro A, Delfini R et al (2015) Blister-like aneurysms in atypical locations: a single-center experience and comprehensive literature review. World Neurosurg 84:1070–1079

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Pierot L, Szikora I, Barreau X, Holtmannspoetter M, Spelle L, Herbreteau D et al (2020) Aneurysm treatment with WEB in the cumulative population of two prospective, multicenter series: 3-year follow-up. J Neurointerv Surg. https://doi.org/10.1136/neurintsurg-2020-016151

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  77. Youssef PP, Dornbos Iii D, Peterson J, Sweid A, Zakeri A, Nimjee SM et al (2020) Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device in the treatment of ruptured aneurysms. J Neurointerv Surg. https://doi.org/10.1136/neurintsurg-2020-016405

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Klisch J, Sychra V, Strasilla C, Liebig T, Fiorella D (2011) The Woven EndoBridge cerebral aneurysm embolization device (WEB II): initial clinical experience. Neuroradiology 53:599–607

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Raymond J, Guilbert F, Weill A, Georganos SA, Juravsky L, Lambert A et al (2003) Long-term angiographic recurrences after selective endovascular treatment of aneurysms with detachable coils. Stroke 34:1398–1403

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Zhang YY, Fang YB, Wu YN, Zhang Q, Li Q, Xu Y et al (2017) Angiographic characteristics and endovascular treatment of anterior cerebral artery A1 segment aneurysms. World Neurosurg 97:551–556

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Musara A, Yamada Y, Takizawa K, Haraguchi K, Kawase T, Tanaka R et al (2019) Microvascular revascularization for recurrent A1 anterior cerebral artery aneurysm postendovascular treatment: a case report and review of the literature. Asian J Neurosurg 14:1004–1007

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  82. Hendricks BK, Spetzler RF (2020) Recurrent giant anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysm with previous coiling, attempted clipping then direct ACA-to-ACA bypass: 2-dimensional operative video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 18:E110

    Google Scholar 

  83. Tollard E, Niemtschik L, Darsaut TE, Guilbert F, Roy D, Raymond J et al (2011) Endovascular parent artery occlusion for the treatment of wide-neck A1 segment aneurysms: a single-center experience. Am J Neuroradiol 32:174–178

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Xiaochuan H, Xiaoyun S, Youxiang L, Ning G, Wenshi G, Junsheng L (2013) Endovascular treatment of unruptured A1 segment aneurysms. Interv Neuroradiol 19:186–194

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  85. Li CY, Chen CC, Chen CT, Hsieh PC, Yi-Chou Wang A, Wu YM et al (2020) Endovascular treatment of ruptured proximal segment of the anterior cerebral artery aneurysms: single-center experience and literature review. World Neurosurg 135:e237–e245

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jinlu Yu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hou, K., Li, G., Guo, Y. et al. Endovascular treatment for aneurysms at the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery: current difficulties and solutions. Acta Neurol Belg 121, 55–69 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-020-01526-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-020-01526-9

Keywords

Navigation