Quantitative magnetic resonance angiography for early identification of in-stent stenosis post-flow diverter aneurysm embolization

Abstract

Background

In-stentstenosis (ISS) is a recognized complication following flow-diverting stent placement for intracranial aneurysms. Although typically asymptomatic and self-resolving, severe cases may result in ischemic complications. Gold-standard detection relies on invasive digital subtraction angiography (DSA). This study sought to determine whether quantitative magnetic resonance angiography with non-invasive optimal vessel analysis (qMRA NOVA) can accurately identify patients with ISS following flowdiverter placement.

Methods

This retrospective study evaluated 373 patients treated with flow-diverting stents at a single institution between 2017 and 2023. Sixteen patients met the inclusion criteria for DSA-confirmed ISS with matched post-procedure and follow-up NOVA imaging and catheter angiography. Vessel flow, velocity, and diameter were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine optimal thresholds for detecting ISS based on flow changes.

Results

Among ISS patients, 88% demonstrated significant flow reductions in the treated vessel on follow-up NOVA (mean decrease: 76.2 ± 65.0 ml/min, P = .0002). ROC analysis showed that the percent change in ICA flow had high discriminative ability, with optimal thresholds demonstrating sensitivity of 86% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 98%. A dual-threshold model combining ≥40 mL absolute and ≥20% relative ICA flow reduction afforded improved specificity (75%) while maintaining high NPV (97%).

Conclusions

NOVA is a sensitive non-invasive tool for early ISS detection following flow diversion, potentially detecting subclinical ISS patients that should undergo subsequent angiography, while also reducing the need for early angiography in patients unlikely to have ISS or repeated angiography to follow-up ISS.