Difference in aneurysm characteristics between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms in patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms

Abstract

Background and purpose: Prediction of the risk of rupture of unruptured intracranial aneurysms is mainly based on aneurysm size and location. Previous studies identified features of aneurysm shape and flow angles as additional risk factors for aneurysm rupture, but these studies were at risk for confounding by patient-specific risk factors such as hypertension and age. In this study, we avoided this risk by comparing characteristics of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms in patients with both aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and multiple intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: We included patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and multiple aneurysms who presented to our hospital between 2003 and 2013. We identified the ruptured aneurysm based on bleeding pattern on head computed tomography or surgical findings. Aneurysm characteristics (size, location, shape, aspect ratio [neck-to-dome length/neck-width], flow angles, sidewall or bifurcation type, and contact with bone) were evaluated on computed tomographic angiograms. We calculated odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals with conditional univariable logistic regression analysis. Analyses were repeated after adjustment for aneurysm size and location.

Results: The largest aneurysm had not ruptured in 36 (29%) of the 124 included patients with 302 aneurysms. Odds ratios for aspect ratio≥1.3 was 3.3 (95% confidence intervals [1.3-8.4]) and odds ratios for irregular shape was 3.0 (95% confidence intervals [1.0-8.8]), both after adjustment for aneurysm size and location.

Conclusions: Aspect ratio≥1.3 and irregular shape are associated with aneurysm rupture independent of aneurysm size and location, and independent of patient characteristics. Additional studies need to assess to what extent these factors increase the risks of rupture of small aneurysms in absolute terms.

Keywords: anatomy and histology; intracranial aneurysm; multidetector computed tomography; subarachnoid hemorrhage.