Location specific rupture risk of intracranial aneurysms: case of ophthalmic aneurysms

Abstract

Background: Aneurysm location is a key element in predicting the rupture risk of an intracranial aneurysm. A common impression suggests that pure ophthalmic aneurysms are under-represented in ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs). The purpose of this study was to specifically evaluate the risk of rupture of ophthalmic aneurysms compared with other aneurysm locations.

Methods: This multicenter study compared the frequency of ophthalmic aneurysms in a prospective cohort of RIAs admitted to 13 neuroradiology centers between January 2021 and March 2021, with a retrospective cohort of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) who underwent cerebral angiography at the same neuroradiology centers during the same time period.

Results: 604 intracranial aneurysms were included in this study (355 UIAs and 249 RIAs; mean age 57 years (IQR 49-65); women 309/486, 64%). Mean aneurysm size was 6.0 mm (5.3 mm for UIAs, 7.0 mm for RIAs; P<0.0001). Aneurysm shape was irregular for 37% UIAs and 73% RIAs (P<0.0001). Ophthalmic aneurysms frequency was 14.9% of UIAs (second most common aneurysm location) and 1.2% of RIAs (second least common aneurysm location; OR 0.07 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.23), P<0.0001).

Conclusions: Ophthalmic aneurysms seem to have a low risk of rupture compared with other intracranial aneurysm locations. This calls for a re-evaluation of the benefit-risk balance when considering preventive treatment for ophthalmic aneurysms.

Keywords: Aneurysm.