The use of flow diverters to treat aneurysms of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery: Report of three cases

Objective The objective of this study was to report our experience on the use of flow diverting stents placed within the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) as a treatment option for aneurysms of the PICA. Methods Three patients with aneurysms of the PICA, both ruptured and unruptured, underwent treatment of their aneurysms with placement of a single flow diverter in the PICA across the neck of the aneurysm. Adjunctive techniques such as coiling were not used. We present the angiographic and clinical follow-up data. Results The procedure was a technical success in all cases and there were no intraoperative complications. Follow-up data were available for two patients and this showed complete occlusion of the aneurysm with the PICA remaining patent. There was no evidence, either clinical or radiological, of medullary or pontine infarction. One patient died during the follow-up period from an unrelated medical illness (community acquired pneumonia). Conclusion Flow diverters can be successfully placed within the PICA to treat both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, and they represent an alternative treatment option to endovascular coiling or microscopic neurosurgery.