ANEURYSMS OF THE BRAIN |
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OUR SPECIALTIES
DEFINITION A brain aneurysm or cerebral aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel. A common location of cerebral aneurysms is on the arteries at the base of the brain. Aneurysms may result from congenital defects, preexisting conditions such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries), or head trauma. Cerebral aneurysms occur more commonly in adults than in children but they may occur at any age. They are slightly more common in women than in men. A small, unchanging aneurysm may produce no symptoms. When an aneurysm ruptures, the individual may experience such symptoms as a sudden and unusually severe headache, nausea, vision impairment, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. Onset is usually sudden and without warning. Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm is dangerous and results in bleeding into the meninges or the brain itself, leading to a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or intracranial hematoma (ICH), either of which constitutes a stroke.
To learn more about Cerebral Aneurysms read Dr Jonathan Brisman's article in THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE called: Medical Progress: Cerebral Aneurysms
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