PURPOSE:Carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are established revascularization strategies, but randomized evidence has often been interpreted without accounting for major changes in CAS technique. We assessed whether the comparative 30-day safety of CAS and CEA differs when trials are stratified by early-device versus contemporary embolic-protected procedural eras. METHODS:PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 1 December 2025 for randomized trials of carotid revascularization in extracranial carotid stenosis. The prespecified novelty of this meta-analysis was era-based stratification according to CAS procedural standards: early-device trials (≤ 2010) versus contemporary embolic-protected CAS trials (≥ 2011), defined by operator credentialing, routine embolic protection, protocolized antiplatelet therapy and contemporary stent platforms. Direct CAS-CEA comparisons were pooled within era-specific strata; trials comparing revascularization with intensive medical therapy were analyzed separately. Fixed-effects models estimated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The primary outcome was 30-day stroke or death; secondary outcomes included peri-procedural myocardial infarction, cranial nerve injury, fatal or disabling stroke, and long-term ipsilateral stroke. RESULTS:Ten randomized comparisons from nine trials including 14,211 patients were analyzed. In early-device trials, stroke or death occurred in 6.8% after CAS versus 4.4% after CEA (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.41-2.10). In contemporary embolic-protected CAS-CEA trials, event rates were similarly low and no significant difference was observed (2.9% vs 3.1%; OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.98-1.70). CAS was associated with lower myocardial infarction (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.31-0.72) and cranial nerve injury (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.03-0.13). Long-term ipsilateral stroke rates were similar after CAS and CEA, with annualized rates of 0.64% and 0.60% per person-year, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.81-1.41). CONCLUSION:The excess peri-procedural stroke risk associated with CAS in early trials was not observed in contemporary randomized evidence. Contemporary CAS and CEA showed similarly low peri-procedural event rates, supporting comparable safety when CAS is performed according to current procedural standards by experienced operators. These findings suggest that CAS and CEA have comparable peri-procedural safety when performed using contemporary procedural standards, supporting individualized selection of revascularization strategies.
The prognostic significance of asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (aICH) after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke remains uncertain. We investigated the association between aICH and clinical outcomes using data from a large prospective registry. We analyzed patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion from the ANGEL-ACT registry (November 2017 to March 2019) who underwent EVT. Patients were categorized into aICH, symptomatic ICH (sICH), and no ICH groups. The primary endpoint was 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0–2, and the safety outcome was death within 90 days. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of aICH. Among 1252 eligible patients, 221 (17.7
Neurointerventional procedures, which are resource-intensive and generate significant waste, remain a major environmental challenge. This international survey aimed to explore the awareness, practices, and barriers surrounding sustainability in neurointervention. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among neurointerventional specialists using a convenience sampling approach. The questionnaire focused on sustainability awareness, surgical gown preferences, workplace sustainability initiatives, perceived barriers, and support for sustainability measures. One-hundred-thirty-eight respondents completed the survey between October 15th, 2025 and December 15th, 2025 (107 [77.5
Evaluation of technical proficiency plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and efficacy of neuroendovascular procedures. However, objective and quantitative assessment methods that are suitable for clinical practice remain scarce or unavailable. To address this limitation, this study examined whether real-time notifications from intraoperative artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted systems can serve as objective indicators of procedural skills. We retrospectively analyzed 200 consecutive digital subtraction angiography (DSA) cases performed at our institution using a real-time AI-assisted system called neuro-vascular assist (iMed Technologies, Tokyo, Japan). The procedures were performed by either board-certified neuroendovascular specialists with extensive experience or noncertified trainees. We compared AI notifications and procedural parameters between the groups and evaluated the association between certification status and AI notifications using mixed-effects logistic regression with a random intercept for operator and adjustment for case-mix. Univariate analysis revealed that trainees exhibited significantly higher frequency of AI notifications (62.5
Carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are established revascularization strategies, but randomized evidence has often been interpreted without accounting for major changes in CAS technique. We assessed whether the comparative 30-day safety of CAS and CEA differs when trials are stratified by early-device versus contemporary embolic-protected procedural eras. PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 1 December 2025 for randomized trials of carotid revascularization in extracranial carotid stenosis. The prespecified novelty of this meta-analysis was era-based stratification according to CAS procedural standards: early-device trials (≤ 2010) versus contemporary embolic-protected CAS trials (≥ 2011), defined by operator credentialing, routine embolic protection, protocolized antiplatelet therapy and contemporary stent platforms. Direct CAS–CEA comparisons were pooled within era-specific strata; trials comparing revascularization with intensive medical therapy were analyzed separately. Fixed-effects models estimated odds ratios (ORs) with 95
High-resolution T2-weighted imaging is essential for preoperative assessment before cochlear implantation. Compressed sensing (CS) with AI-based reconstruction (CSAI) reduces acquisition times whilst preserving image quality. Although CSAI has been established in various clinical applications, its performance in inner ear imaging remains unclear. This study assesses CSAI-optimized T2-DRIVE sequences at different resolutions and acquisition times for visualizing inner ear structures. In 30 healthy participants, CS T2-DRIVE was acquired at isotropic resolutions of 0.65, 0.5, and 0.4 mm. 0.5 and 0.4 mm datasets were also reconstructed using a commercially available AI-based reconstruction algorithm. Three raters independently assessed the imaging quality of anatomical landmarks (cochlea, semicircular canals, vestibulocochlear nerve), artifacts, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) using a 5-point Likert scale. Each rater re-rated a subset of images after ≥ 4 weeks. Inter- and intra-rater reliability were calculated using quadratically weighted Cohen’s kappa, and differences between sequences were analyzed using cumulative link mixed models (CLMM). 0.4 mm isotropic imaging exhibited lower SNR compared to CSAI 0.5 mm, regardless of reconstruction algorithm (p < 0.001). Across all raters, CSAI T2 at 0.5 mm resolution significantly improved delineation of the cochlea and vestibulocochlear nerve compared to 0.65 mm imaging (p < 0.001), while assessability of semicircular canals was reduced (p = 0.082). Acquisition times increased with higher resolutions (0.65/0.5/0.4 mm: 4:02/4:25/4:34 min). AI-driven reconstruction algorithms enable statistically significant improvements in imaging of key inner-ear structures with minimal increases in scan time at 0.5 mm resolution.
Flow-diverting stents are widely used for the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Prospective clinical evaluation of newly developed flow-diverting devices is necessary to characterize their procedural performance, angiographic efficacy, and safety outcomes. To report the 12-month clinical and angiographic outcomes of the J‑Tube flow-diverting stent in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. This prospective, multicenter, single-arm study was conducted between September 2022 and June 2024 at nine tertiary clinical centers in China. A total of 149 patients were enrolled, of whom 148 received treatment with the J‑Tube flow-diverting stent. The primary efficacy endpoint was complete occlusion of the target aneurysm at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included procedural success, complete occlusion at 6 months, parent artery patency at 12 months, and device performance. Safety outcomes included all-cause mortality, stroke, adverse events, serious adverse events, target aneurysm hemorrhage, and device defects. A total of 157 J-Tube flow-diverting stents were implanted in 148 patients, resulting in a procedural success rate of 100
Heart failure (HF) is a common comorbidity in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS), but its impact on outcomes by HF phenotype is unclear. This is the first study to compare short-term CAS outcomes between patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and those with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This multicenter, prospective observational study started by screening 889 patients from the CASSH registry. After applying predefined criteria, 105 patients with heart failure undergoing CAS were included (69 HFpEF, 36 HFrEF). Baseline demographics, comorbidities, and procedural details were compared. The primary outcome was a composite of 30-day procedure-related mortality, stroke, or myocardial infarction. Secondary outcomes included disability, measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), at 30 days and at 90 days. Multivariable ordinal regression was used to assess the independent association between HF phenotype and poor functional outcome. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The primary outcome occurred in 5.6
Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are monitored for growth after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using serial MRI. Conventional measurements often miss internal regrowth within necrotic/cystic tumor components—a subtle and difficult-to-detect imaging scenario that may indicate treatment failure. We evaluated a custom AI-based segmentation tool to detect internal tumor regrowth after SRS, comparing it with expert segmentation for spatial agreement, volumetric change, and radiographic failure classification (≥ 20
Language processing is organized in brain networks, generally lateralized to the left hemisphere. In clinical routine, task-based functional MRI (fMRI) is the gold standard for non-invasive evaluation of language lateralization. However, standard fMRI does not account for the individual heterogeneity of language networks. fMRI-based functional connectivity analysis (FCA) has addressed this shortcoming by identifying correlates of dysfunctional language networks in epilepsy patients. In order to individualize FCA, translation of group-based network analysis to individual epilepsy patients is necessary. Here, we introduce the functional connectivity laterality index (LIFC) as a potential clinical parameter. This retrospective study included adults with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who underwent task-based fMRI and a control group. To account for individual variations, fMRI was performed at a 3T scanner and processed entirely in native space. Laterality indices were computed from both activation maps and seed-based functional connectivity across frontal, temporal, and combined language regions. Group comparisons and associations with neuropsychological language performance were analysed. Forty patients with unilateral TLE and 25 healthy controls were included. Groups were comparable in terms of sex, handedness, imaging findings, and epilepsy duration, although the controls were younger. Classical LI showed predominantly left-lateralization, while LIFC showed mostly bilateral language lateralization. Neuropsychological performance did not differ between TLE-left and TLE-right patients. While a difference in semantic fluency was initially observed, it did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. However, analyses based on functional network organization revealed a critical pattern: Patients with language networks lateralized to the seizure side—as quantified by LIFC—showed significantly poorer semantic fluency and lower composite language scores. This potential clinically relevant result was exclusive to FCA and was not captured by activation data alone. Our findings suggest an individual vulnerability of language networks to seizure burden, although this uncorrected, exploratory finding requires replication in larger, independent samples. Incorporating functional connectivity measures into presurgical clinical fMRI analysis may enhance our ability to predict and protect language function in patients with TLE by prioritizing further therapies or surgical interventions for those at higher risk of language decline.
Unfavorable outcome is not uncommon after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) presenting with mild symptoms, but predictors remain unclear. This study aimed to identify clinical and imaging predictors of unfavorable outcome in patients with BAO and mild symptoms. We retrospectively analyzed 71 patients with acute BAO and baseline NIHSS ≤ 10 who underwent EVT. Patients were classified by 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores into favorable (0–2) and unfavorable (3–6) outcome groups. Clinical and imaging variables, including perfusion parameters, were compared. Independent predictors for unfavorable outcome were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were performed according to onset-to-puncture time (early ≤ 6 h vs. late > 6 h) and door-to-puncture time (immediate ≤ 120 min vs. delayed > 120 min). Of 71 patients, 25 (35.2
The learning curve for interventional neuroradiologists starting independent mechanical thrombectomy (MT) remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated associations between operator experience, procedural performance, and clinical outcomes to estimate the number of procedures for expert-level performance. We retrospectively analyzed MT procedures from our stroke registry (2020–2024). Operators with low-to-intermediate prior neurovascular experience were followed during their first 20–50 independent cases. Procedural outcomes included procedure duration, number of passes, door-to-groin-puncture time, first-pass success, reperfusion success (modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) ≥ 2b–3), and complications. Learning curves were benchmarked against expert operator performance. Associations between operator experience and outcomes were evaluated with mixed-effects models. Clinical outcomes were assessed using changes in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) from admission to discharge and at 3‑month follow-up. 295 MT procedures were performed by seven operators (median 50 each; interquartile range 25–50). Procedure duration decreased significantly with experience (β = −0.7 min per procedure; 95
Wilson disease is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism that results in toxic copper accumulation in the liver and brain, thereby causing neurological injury. Previous reports have described astrocyte dysfunction, oxidative stress, glial pathology, and impaired aquaporin-4-mediated water transport in Wilson disease, suggesting a potential disruption of glymphatic fluid dynamics. However, glymphatic function has not been quantitatively assessed in this population using diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS). This retrospective single-center study aimed to quantify glymphatic system function in pediatric patients with Wilson disease using the DTI-ALPS index. Brain MRI/DTI data (30 directions, b = 1000 s/mm2) from 43 patients younger than 18 years diagnosed according to the Leipzig criteria (2018–2025) were analyzed and compared with 43 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Neuro-Wilson status was defined by MRI involvement plus neurological symptoms. ALPS indices were derived from regions of interest in the corona radiata and superior longitudinal fasciculus on color-FA maps. The analyses included group comparisons, correlations with clinical variables, and a secondary sensitivity ANCOVA adjusted for age and sex to confirm the robustness of group differences despite demographic matching. Right-, left-, and mean ALPS indices were significantly lower in patients with Wilson’s disease than in controls, with this group effect persisting after demographic adjustment (F = 13.90, p < 0.001; adjusted means: controls 1.51, WD 1.34, NWD 1.38). ALPS indices did not differ between the WD and NWD subgroups despite higher liver severity scores in the latter. ALPS values did not correlate with liver severity scores, urinary copper, ceruloplasmin or sex. These findings suggest that the DTI-ALPS index may reflect glymphatic system-related processes, as well as disease-related microstructural and perivascular alterations, in pediatric Wilson disease. The DTI-ALPS index may provide complementary, non-invasive imaging information regarding early perivascular microstructural alterations. Prospective multicenter longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the temporal relationships among ALPS index changes, neurological progression, and treatment response.
To evaluate the feasibility of a locally deployable large language model (LLM) system for automated MRI protocol selection addressing data privacy, annotation burden, and scalability limitations. This retrospective study included 598 German-language MRI order entries from three neuroradiology domains (brain, head/neck, spine) between June 2018 and January 2023. A radiologist labeled entries for 27 protocol classes based on institutional standard operating procedures (SOP). An SOP-grounded AI system using MedGemma 27B was developed to predict the MRI protocol from the order entry. The system was optimized using Stochastic Introspective Mini-Batch Ascent (SIMBA), a self-reflective prompt optimization algorithm, and compared with a hierarchical system that first classified the body region and then the MRI protocol. Data efficiency was evaluated using training subsets of 10–119 examples across 3 optimization runs per subset size. The flat zero-shot model achieved 73.07
