Multiple aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery: radiological and surgical difficulties

Abstract

Object: Multiple aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) occur rarely and have not been well investigated previously. The authors report on a consecutive series of six patients who each harbored multiple ACoA aneurysms. The radiological and surgical difficulties encountered in treating these complex and uncommon aneurysms are described and the pertinent literature is reviewed.

Methods: Between October 1996 and August 2003, the authors surgically treated 146 patients with ACoA aneurysms. Six (4.1%) of these patients harbored multiple aneurysms of the ACoA. Four of these patients were men and two were women; their ages ranged from 36 to 72 years. Five patients had two aneurysms and one patient had three. All underwent surgery performed using the pterional approach. The clinical presentations, angiograms, intraoperative difficulties, and surgical results were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had premorbid hypertension. In two cases, the aneurysms were initially misdiagnosed as a single complex aneurysm based on routine cerebral angiograms, but special angiographic views demonstrated double aneurysms. In one case, multiple ACoA aneurysms could be identified using three-dimensional (3D) computerized tomography (CT) angiography. The size of the ACoA aneurysms ranged from 3 to 12 mm (mean 5.3 mm). A total of 13 ACoA aneurysms were successfully occluded in the six patients. Four patients were discharged in good condition, and two patients died.

Conclusions: Although multiple ACoA aneurysms are quite rare, the following points should be kept in mind. (1) In bilobular ACoA aneurysms, special angiographic projections and 3D CT angiography or 3D digital subtraction angiography should also be performed to obtain a correct diagnosis. The differentiation of two aneurysms from a bilobular aneurysm during the preoperative period is important for surgical planning. (2) Angiographically, detection of the ruptured aneurysm is often difficult. (3) Resection of the gyrus rectus is necessary to obtain a good operative exposure. 4) Clip selection and sequencing are important. Straight clips with short blades should be preferred to avoid narrowing of the surgeon's view and a collision between the clips.