Axial CTA of Head. L MCA Aneurysm identified. Abnormality highlighted.
Cerebral Aneurysm
Cerebral aneurysm is the most common non-traumatic cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Aneurysmal rupture typically presents with thunderclap headache and focal neurological deficit, and has an all-cause mortality of roughly 50% at 6 months.
Modifiable Risk Factors for Cerebral Aneurysm:
- Hypertension
- Tobacco Abuse
- Hyperlipidemia
- Female sex
- Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Neurofibromatosis
- Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
- Varies widely (gross average 1% per year)
Many factors play a role in the decision of whether or not treat but...
- Aneurysms greater than > 7 mm are at generally at high enough risk of rupture to warrant treatment with the understanding that posterior circulation and P. comm. aneurysms are at even greater risk of rupture than anterior circulation aneurysms.