Publications by authors named "Naomi Larsen"

Background: The Contour Neurovascular System (Contour) is a novel device designed for the endovascular treatment of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs). While clinical reports have shown promising results, some cases have failed to achieve satisfactory angiographic outcomes, and the mechanisms driving these differences remain unclear. Detailed hemodynamic analysis is critical to understanding the device's performance and optimizing treatment strategies.

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Large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes account for a significant proportion of ischemic strokes and are often cardioembolic in origin, particularly following atrial fibrillation (AF) with thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Although direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC) therapy reduces stroke risk in AF, anatomical and flow-related factors may still allow thrombi to form and persist, revealing the limitations of anticoagulation in high-risk patients. Examining structural and hemodynamic factors contributing to thrombus persistence is essential for optimizing patient management.

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Non- traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) constitutes a life-threatening event, which is caused in 85% by ruptured aneurysms. Identifying those aneurysms as the bleeding cause is essential for further therapy. This study explores whether relatively hypodense sparing of aneurysms in the blood-filled subarachnoid space (filling defect sign = FD) on nonenhanced CT scans (NECT) can help estimate aneurysm location and size.

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Background And Purpose: Aneurysmal disease of the intracranial vasculature poses a relevant threat, warranting effective interventions. Minimally invasive interventional techniques for aneurysm treatment have evolved to the application of flow-diversion stents and devices. This study focuses on the Contour Neurovascular System (CNS), aiming to add knowledge regarding its mid- to long-term outcomes in treating wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.

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The purpose of this study is the evaluation of imaging findings of acute-phase cardiac CT (cCT) in stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) to identify potential cardioembolic sources (CES) in patients without intracardiac thrombi and atrial fibrillation (AF). This retrospective study included 315 patients with LVO who underwent cCT imaging in the acute stroke setting. The images were analysed for 15 imaging findings following the established minor and major cardioembolic risk factors.

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Vessel walls play a crucial role in many inflammatory vascular diseases. Vessel wall imaging (VWI) using mangnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the few methods by which vessel walls and inflammation can be visualized noninvasively, in vivo, and without ionizing radiation. VWI is based on black-blood (BB) MRI, where the signal from flowing blood is suppressed and contrast agent accumulation in the (inflamed) vessel wall is highlighted.

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Acute stroke imaging includes native CT, CT-angiography (CTA), and CT-perfusion (CTP). CTP assesses the irreversibly damaged infarct core (IC), and the potentially salvageable penumbra (PEN) and distinguishes these from areas of healthy parenchyma (HA). However, it requires additional contrast agent and radiation.

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Objective: In this study, we report our experience with the occurrence of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions following aneurysm treatment with Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device and Contour Neurovascular System in elective settings. We compared both techniques in a retrospective single-center analysis, to investigate whether there are significant differences in the incidence of microemboli depending on the device used.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-two cases treated with Contour were retrospectively compared with 84 WEB cases.

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Article Synopsis
  • The contour neurovascular system (CNS) is a device used to treat specific types of brain aneurysms, but its metal components interfere with MRI imaging after implantation.
  • This study involved creating 3D models of aneurysms and testing different imaging methods, including CTA and MRI, to find effective non-invasive alternatives to the standard digital subtraction angiography (DSA).
  • Results showed that focused spectral CTA with metal artifact reduction provided clear imaging similar to DSA, making it a good option for follow-ups, while MRI was limited in assessing critical areas around the aneurysms post-implantation.
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Objectives: Optic neuritis is a common clinical presentation in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). Even though optic neuritis is not part of the MS diagnostic criteria, the diagnosis and consideration of differential diagnoses are important in clinical routine. For the evaluation of the optic nerves with MRI, T2-weighted images with fat suppression, known as short tau inversion recovery sequences (STIR), are often used.

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Purpose: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a common autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. MRI plays a crucial role in diagnosing as well as in disease and treatment monitoring. Therefore, evaluation of cerebral MRI of MS patients is part of daily clinical routine.

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Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a common autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows a sensitive assessment of the CNS and is established for diagnostic, prognostic and (therapy-) monitoring purposes. Especially lesion counting in T2- or Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR)-weighted images plays a decisive role in clinical routine.

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Purpose: The contour neurovascular system (CNS) is a novel device to treat intracranial wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms, with few studies assessing its long-term effects. Particularly its impact on aneurysm morphology has not been explored yet. We present a preliminary study to explore this impact for the first time, focusing on the neck curve and ostium of the aneurysm.

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Background: Perivascular spaces (synonym: Virchow-Robin spaces) were first described over 150 years ago. They are defined as the fluid-filled spaces surrounding the small penetrating cerebral vessels. They gained growing scientific interest especially with the postulation of the so-called glymphatic system and their possible role in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.

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Introduction: Treatment of basilar apex aneurysms will remain challenging regarding the nobility of the parent vessel and their often wide-necked configuration. With endovascular techniques being the treatment approach of choice, novel intrasaccular flow-disruption devices constitute an endovascular embolization option. In this research, we report our experiences in embolizing basilar tip aneurysms with the novel Contour device.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Contour Neurovascular System is recognized as a safe and effective treatment for wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms, but its impact on blood flow post-deployment had not been thoroughly examined prior to this study.
  • The research utilized advanced imaging techniques to analyze how Contour devices affect blood flow in 14 patient models of basilar tip aneurysms, revealing a significant reduction in intra-aneurysmal flow velocity and wall shear stress.
  • While the Contour device significantly lowers flow within the aneurysm regardless of its position, it does influence blood flow in the posterior cerebral arteries, indicating a need for further investigation.
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Background And Purpose: Treating aneurysms with intra-saccular flow disruption is a feasible alternative to coil-embolization. Besides the established WEB device, the novel Contour Neurovascular System has emerged as a potentially easier alternative regarding sizing and deployment. We report the learning curve experienced at our center from the first 48 patients treated with Contour and compared it with 48 consecutive WEB cases.

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Cardiac CT obtained in acute ischemic stroke patients can facilitate timely detection of cardiac sources of embolism and guide secondary prevention strategies. Spectral CT exploiting the simultaneous acquisition of separate higher-energy and lower-energy photon spectrum datasets has the potential to improve contrast between thrombi and cardiac structures. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of spectral cardiac CT compared to conventional CT for the detection of cardiac thrombi in acute stroke patients.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Contour device is an intrasaccular flow disruption tool originally for treating wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms but can also be used for those with a higher dome-to-neck ratio.
  • A study involving 42 patients found that embolization with the Contour device was faster and required less radiation compared to traditional coil embolization.
  • Complications and reintervention rates were lower with the Contour device, suggesting it may be a safer alternative for treating narrow-neck aneurysms.
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Purpose: Intracranial aneurysms are vascular deformations in the brain which are complicated to treat. In clinical routines, the risk assessment of intracranial aneurysm rupture is simplified and might be unreliable, especially for patients with multiple aneurysms. Clinical research proposed more advanced analysis of intracranial aneurysm, but requires many complex preprocessing steps.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new device called the contour neurovascular system has been created to treat intracranial aneurysms by reducing blood flow at the aneurysm neck.
  • The study tested different sizes of the contour device on patient-based aneurysm models using 2D digital subtraction angiography to measure flow diversion efficiency by calculating contrast washout time (WOT).
  • Results showed that the 5-mm contour had the longest WOT, indicating better performance, while the larger 11-mm and 14-mm contours had similar effectiveness in flow diversion.
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Objectives: Assessing the risk associated with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is essential in clinical decision making. Several geometric risk parameters have been proposed for this purpose. However, performance of these parameters has been inconsistent.

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