Case 3: Discussion

Intracranial Anuerysms

• Abnormal focal outpouchings of cerebral arteries
• Sporadically acquired lesions but some may be associated with an underlying condition such as Marfans
• Common presentation of intracranial aneurysm is rupture leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• An unruptured aneurysm may be asymptomatic and thus be found incidentally, or it may be diagnosed on the basis of symptoms.
• Diagnosis: Head CT (subarachnoid hemorrhage); Angiography, CTA, MRA to evaluate the location and size of the anuerysm itself
• Treatment: Surgical clipping, endovascular coiling or observation