CEREBRAL ANEURYSM

A CEREBRAL ANEURYSM IS A BULGE OR BALLOONING IN A BLOOD VESSEL OF THE BRAIN. IT OFTEN LOOKS LIKE A BERRY HANGING ON A BRANCH. AN ANEURYM CAN RUPTURE, CAUSING A BLEEDING INTO THE BRAIN.

SYMPTOMS

SYMPTOMS OF AN UNRUPTURED ANEURYMS INCLUDE: PAIN ABOVE THE EYE, DILATED PUPIL, VISION CHANGES, NUMBNESS AND OR WEAKNESS TO ONE SIDE OF THE FACE.

SYMPTOMS OF A RUPTURED ANEURYMS INCLUDE: A SUDDEN SEVERE HEADACHE, NAUSEA/VOMITING, VISION CHANGES, SEIZURE, CONFUSION AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

BOTH CT AND MRI ARE OFTEN DONE WHEN A CEREBRAL ANEURYSM IS SUSPECTED. A CT SCAN MAYBE DONE INITIALLY TO DETERMINE IF THE IS A BRAIN BLEED. A MRI OR MRA IS DONE TO GET BETTER AND MORE DETAILED IMAGES OF THE ANEURYSM. A NEUROSURGEON WILL USE THIS INFORMATION TO HELP DETERMINE A COURSE OF ACTION.

TREATMENT USUALLY INVOLVES SURGERY. A NEUROSURGEON REMOVES A SMALL PIECE OF THE SKULL TO ACCESS THE ANEURYSM. A CLIP IS THEN PLACED AROUND THE ANEURYSM TO CUT OFF BLOOD FLOW TO THE BULGING AREA. THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF THE ANEURYSM, ALONG WITH THE HEALTH AND AGE OF THE PATIENT ARE FACTORS IN DETERMINING IF SURGERY IS THE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT.