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What is a brain aneurysm? A brain aneurysm, also called a cerebral aneurysm, is a bulge in a weak area of an artery in or around your brain. The constant pressure of blood flow pushes the weakened section outward, creating a blister-like bump. When blood rushes into this bulge, the aneurysm stretches even farther. It’s similar to how a balloon gets thinner and is more likely to pop as it fills with air. Brain aneurysms can occur anywhere in your brain, but most of them form in the major arteries along the base of your skull. Approximately 10% to 30% of people who have a brain aneurysm have multiple aneurysms. The majority of brain aneurysms are small and don’t cause symptoms. An aneurysm can cause symptoms if it puts pressure on nearby nerves or brain tissue. If the aneurysm leaks or ruptures (bursts open), it causes bleeding in your brain. A ruptured brain aneurysm can be life-threatening and requires emergency medical treatment. As more time passes with a ruptured aneurysm, the likelihood of death or disability increases. What happens when a brain aneurysm ruptures? When it ruptures, blood spills (hemorrhages) into your surrounding brain tissue. The blood can put excess pressure on your brain tissue and make your brain swell. It usually causes a severe headache called a thunderclap headache, in addition to other symptoms. A ruptured brain aneurysm can cause serious health problems such as: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH): Bleeding in the area between your brain and the thin tissues that cover and protect it (the arachnoid layer). About 90% of SAHs are due to ruptured brain aneurysms. Hemorrhagic stroke: Bleeding in the space between your skull and brain. This can result can in permanent brain damage or other complications such as: Vasospasm: This happens when blood vessels get narrower or clamp down and less oxygen reaches your brain. Hydrocephalus: This happens when a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid or blood around your brain puts increased pressure on it. Seizures: A seizure is a temporary, uncontrolled surge of electrical activity in your brain. It can make brain damage due to a ruptured aneurysm worse. Coma: A state of prolonged unconsciousness. It can last days to weeks. Death: Ruptured brain aneurysms result in death in about 50% of cases. Who do brain aneurysms affect? Brain aneurysms can affect anyone and at any age. But they’re most likely to affect people between the ages of 30 and 60. They’re also more common in women and people assigned female at birth than in men and people assigned male at birth. Types:- 1. Saccular aneurysm, also known as a berry aneurysm. This type of aneurysm looks like a berry hanging from a vine. It's a round, blood-filled sac that protrudes from the main artery or one of its branches. It usually forms on arteries at the base of the brain. A berry aneurysm is the most common type of aneurysm. 2. Fusiform aneurysm. This type of aneurysm causes bulging on all sides of the artery. 3. Mycotic aneurysm. This type of aneurysm is caused by an infection. When an infection affects the arteries in the brain, it can weaken the artery wall. This can cause an aneurysm to form. Symptoms and Causes:- What are the symptoms of a brain aneurysm? Brain aneurysm symptoms vary based on whether it’s unruptured or ruptured. Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm include: Thunderclap headache (sudden onset and severe, often described as “the worst headache of my life”). Nausea and vomiting. Stiff neck. Blurred or double vision. Sensitivity to light (photophobia). Seizures. Drooping eyelid and a dilated pupil. Pain above and behind your eye. Confusion. Weakness and/or numbness. Loss of consciousness. Symptoms of an unruptured brain aneurysm Most unruptured (intact) brain aneurysms don’t cause symptoms. If they become large enough, the bulge in your artery can put pressure on nearby nerves or brain tissue, causing the following symptoms: Headaches. Vision changes. Enlarged (dilated) pupil. Numbness or tingling on your head or face. Pain above and behind your eye. Seizures. See a healthcare provider as soon as possible if you’re experiencing these symptoms. What causes brain aneurysms? Brain aneurysms develop when the walls of an artery in your brain become thin and weak. They usually form at branching points of arteries. Sometimes, you can be born with a brain aneurysm. This is typically due to an abnormality (birth defect) in an artery wall. Several other factors can contribute to the weakening of an artery. The following inherited factors affect the health of your arteries and can increase your risk of developing a brain aneurysm: Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Marfan syndrome. Fibromuscular dysplasia. Arteriovenous malformation. Having a first-degree relative (biological sibling or parent) with a history of brain aneurysms. The following conditions and situations can weaken your artery walls over time: Smoking. High blood pressure. Substance use, particularly cocaine. Excessive alcohol use. What causes a brain aneurysm to rupture? The factors that contribute to the development of a brain aneurysm can also cause it to rupture (burst) and bleed. Researchers think high blood pressure is the most common cause of a rupture. Higher blood pressure makes blood push harder against blood vessel walls. Situations that can increase blood pressure and lead to a brain aneurysm rupture include: Ongoing stress or a sudden burst of anger or other strong emotion. Working hard (straining) to lift, carry or push something heavy like weights or furniture. Known high blood pressure that isn’t properly treated with medications. Many factors determine whether an aneurysm is likely to burst, including: Size and shape: Smaller aneurysms may be less likely to bleed than larger, irregularly shaped ones. Growth: If an aneurysm has grown over time, it may be more likely to rupture. Location: Aneurysms on the posterior communicating arteries (a pair of arteries in the back of your brain) and the anterior communicating artery (an artery in the front of your brain) have a higher risk of rupturing than brain aneurysms in other locations. Race: People of Japanese or Finish heritage have higher risk of aneurysm rupture. Older age: People older than 70 are at higher risk of aneurysm rupture. People who have multiple brain aneurysms or who’ve had a previous aneurysm bleed are at the highest risk of a brain aneurysm rupture. Diagnosis and Tests:- How are brain aneurysms diagnosed? Most people with an unruptured brain aneurysm don’t know they have one. A healthcare provider may find one during an imaging test of your brain, such as an MRI or CT scan that you got for a different medical reason. If you have symptoms of a brain aneurysm, such as a severe headache, call 911 or go to the emergency room. A healthcare provider will order tests to see if a brain aneurysm has ruptured. These tests may include: CT (computed tomography) scan: This is often the first imaging test a provider will order to see if blood has leaked into your brain. A CT scan uses X-rays and computers to produce images of a cross-section of your body. Providers may also use a CT angiogram (CTA), which produces more detailed images of blood flow in your brain’s arteries. CTA can show the size, location and shape of an unruptured or ruptured aneurysm. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan: MRI uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed images of your brain. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) produces detailed images of your brain’s arteries and can show the size, location and shape of an aneurysm. Cerebral angiography: This is a procedure in which a neurosurgeon or an interventional neuroradiologist inserts a catheter into a blood vessel in your groin or wrist. They thread it to your brain to take more accurate images of the arteries in your neck and brain. This imaging test can find blockages in arteries in your brain or neck. It also can identify weak spots in an artery, like an aneurysm. Providers use this test to determine the cause of bleeding in your brain and the exact location, size and shape of an aneurysm. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis: This test measures the substances in the fluid that surrounds and protects your brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). A provider collects a CSF sample by performing a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). The analysis can detect bleeding around your brain. How are brain aneurysms treated? The main goal of brain aneurysm treatment is to stop or reduce the flow of blood into the aneurysm. A leaking or ruptured brain aneurysm requires emergency surgery. You may or may not need treatment for an unruptured aneurysm depending on your circumstances. Your healthcare team will recommend the best treatment option(s) for you based on your vascular anatomy, aneurysm size and location and several other factors. In general, recovery takes longer for ruptured aneurysms than for unruptured aneurysms.

Key Specification Brain Aneurysm

Cerebral aneurysm

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