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Aneurysm in the Brain
Alternate Names : Aneurysm - Cerebral, Cerebral Aneurysm
Definition An "aneurysm" is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a section of a blood vessel. When an aneurysm occurs in the brain, it is called a cerebral aneurysm.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Aneurysms in the brain occur when there is a weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel. They may occur as a congenital (present from before birth) defect or may develop later in life.
A saccular aneurysm (berry aneurysm) can vary in size from a few millimeters to over a centimeter. Giant berry aneurysms can reach well over 2 cm. The aneurysm resembles a sack of blood attached to one side of the blood vessel by a narrow neck. These are more common in adults.
Other types of cerebral aneurysm may involve widening (dilatation) of the entire circumference of the blood vessel in an area, or may appear as a ballooning out of part of a blood vessel. These types of aneurysms can occur in any blood vessel which supplies the brain. Trauma and infection, which can injure the blood vessel wall, can cause such aneurysms.
It is estimated that 5% of the population has some type of aneurysm in the brain. However, the incidence of ruptured aneurysm is approximately 10 out of 100,000 people per year. Multiple berry aneurysms are not unusual. About 10% of patients who have one aneurysm will have at least one more.
Risk factors for aneurysms include a family history of cerebral aneurysms, and some medical problems, including polycystic kidney disease and coarctation of the aorta.
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• Definition
• Brain Aneurysm Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Brain Aneurysm Symptoms & Signs
• Brain Aneurysm Prevention
• Brain Aneurysm Diagnosis & Tests
• Brain Aneurysm Treatment
• Brain Aneurysm Prognosis
• Brain Aneurysm Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Aneurysm
• Coarctation of the Aorta
• Epilepsy
• Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
• Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Stroke
• Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Tests & Exams
• Cerebral Angiography
• Cranial CT Scan
• CSF Cell Count
• CT Scan
• EEG
• MRI of the Head
Other Topics
• Bleeding
• Confusion
• Consciousness - Decreased
• Drowsiness
• Eyelid Drooping
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Incidence
• Joint Pain
• Muscle Function Loss
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Numbness and Tingling
• Seizures
• Speech Impairment (Adult)
• Swelling
• Weakness
Review Date : 11/17/2002
Reviewed By : Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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