Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2006 Jul;9(2):141-6.

An overview of intracranial aneurysms

Alexander Keedy  1
Affiliations

An overview of intracranial aneurysms

Alexander Keedy. Mcgill J Med. 2006 Jul.

Abstract

Intracranial aneurysms are relatively common, with a prevalence of approximately 4%. Unruptured aneurysms may cause symptoms mainly due to a mass effect, but the real danger is when an aneurysm ruptures, leading to a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Most aneurysms are asymptomatic and will not rupture, but they grow unpredictably and even small aneurysms carry a risk of rupture. Intracranial aneurysms are diagnosed and monitored with imaging including intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography, computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and recently transcranial Doppler ultrasonograpy has been proposed as a potential modality. Treatment options include observation, endovascular coiling, and surgical clipping. This paper will review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, natural history, and management of unruptured saccular intracranial aneurysms.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The circle of Willis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bilobed aneurysm of the right middle cerebral artery measuring 4x5mm.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Computed tomography (CT) angiography of the same aneurysm depicted in Figure 2.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Magnetic resonance (MR) angiogram depicting normal cerebral vasculature
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Rinkel GJ, Djibuti M, Algra A, et al. Prevalence and risk of rupture of intracranial aneurysms: a systematic review. Stroke. 1998;29:251–6. - PubMed
    1. Gasparotti R, Liserre R. Intracranial aneurysms. Eur Radiol. 2005;15:441–7. - PubMed
    1. Wardlaw JM, White PM. The detection and management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Brain. 2000;123:205–21. - PubMed
    1. Wagner M, Stenger K. Unruptured intracranial aneurysms: using evidence and outcomes to guide patient teaching. Crit Care Nurs Q. 2005;28:341–54. - PubMed
    1. Austin G, Fisher S, Dickson D, et al. The significance of the extracellular matrix in intracranial aneurysms. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1993;23:97–105. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources