Brain aneurysm

Aneurysms often cause no symptoms at all. These aneurysms are called “asymptomatic.”

Symptoms can arise if an aneurysm is particularly large or located in certain parts of the brain. Such aneurysms can press against brain tissue or nerves carrying information away from the brain – for instance on the optic (eye) nerve. This can cause symptoms such as

• headaches,
• vision problems, and
• eye muscle paralysis.

Less common symptoms include seizures and sensory, speech, or hearing problems.

Brain aneurysms typically develop over time because the affected part of the vessel wall becomes less elastic. This can happen as a result of

• the normal aging process,
• increased pressure on the wall of the blood vessel in people with high blood pressure, or
• damage to the blood vessel due to smoking or inflammation.

Rarely, aneurysms are caused by genetic diseases such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which leads to weak connective tissue and – as a result – weak blood vessel walls.

People with high blood pressure and people who smoke are more likely to develop brain aneurysms.

Women are at a higher risk of brain aneurysm than men – as are people who have a parent or sibling with a brain aneurysm. The risk also increases with age.

The same factors make the aneurysm more likely to eventually rupture. But this risk depends on things like the exact location and size of the aneurysm.

About 3 in 100 adults have a brain aneurysm. Some people have several brain aneurysms.

Most brain aneurysms don’t change, never cause any symptoms, and therefore remain unnoticed. Even if an aneurysm is discovered by chance, it doesn’t necessarily need to be treated. But knowing that you have an aneurysm can be worrying.

A brain aneurysm that grows over time can cause symptoms. Larger aneurysms are also more likely to rupture.

Aneurysms may rupture (burst). They are then called ruptured aneurysms. Ruptures result in bleeding in the brain – more specifically known as subarachnoid hemorrhage. This is a life-threatening emergency that needs to be treated as quickly as possible. Bleeding increases the pressure within the skull and damages the delicate brain tissue. A sudden, extremely severe headache is a typical symptom. Many patients say that the headache is the worst they have ever experienced. The pain often starts at the back of the head and neck. It then spreads across the entire head and down into the back.

Other typical symptoms of a bleeding aneurysm include the following:

• Stiff neck
• Nausea, vomiting
• Confusion or loss of consciousness

Bleeding is the most common complication of aneurysms. The likelihood of brain aneurysms rupturing and causing bleeding depends on the above-mentioned risk factors and especially on the size of the aneurysm.

A rare further complication of brain aneurysms is the blockage of an artery in the brain: Blood clots often form inside aneurysms, but they generally don’t cause any problems. In rare cases, though, one of these blood clots moves back into the brain artery. The clot may then be carried in the bloodstream to a smaller branch of the artery, which it blocks (embolism), causing a stroke.

Many people find out by chance that they have a brain aneurysm during an examination for another medical problem.

If someone has symptoms such as headaches or vision problems, doctors may recommend doing a scan: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). Aneurysms are particularly easy to see using a technique known as digital subtraction angiography (DSA), where an x-ray is taken with and without injecting a contrast medium. A computer then calculates an image that only shows blood vessels – other structures, such as bones, can no longer be seen.

The diagnosis, check-up scans, and the fear of complications can be distressing. So if someone has an aneurysm that would never have caused any symptoms or ruptured, and that aneurysm is discovered by chance, the chance discovery (“incidental diagnosis”) may cause unnecessary distress. This is known as “overdiagnosis.”

If the aneurysm isn’t causing any symptoms and isn’t particularly likely to rupture, treatment isn’t always needed. But it's often difficult to decide whether or not to have treatment because many factors play a role – such as the position of the aneurysm and your general health.

It is always worth trying to minimize the risk factors for complications – for example, by treating high blood pressure and by not smoking.

If the aneurysm is left untreated, an MRI or CT scan is done every one to three years. This scan shows whether the aneurysm has changed and the risk of bleeding in the brain has increased.

For people who have symptoms or a higher risk of complications, two main treatment options are considered:

• Surgery ("neurosurgical clipping"): The aneurysm is clamped off with a small metal clip.
• Endovascular coiling: Tiny coils are typically pushed through the blood vessel to the brain aneurysm. As a result, the blood in the aneurysm clots and the aneurysm is closed off.

Both methods can permanently stop blood from flowing into the aneurysm. Although they prevent the aneurysm from bursting, they are themselves associated with risks. To find out which option would be most suitable, it can help to have an in-depth talk with a doctors specializing in the treatment of brain aneurysms – a neurologist, neurosurgeon or neuroradiologist.

When people are ill or need medical advice, they usually go to see their family doctor first. Our topic "Health care in Germany" can help you to find the right doctor – and you can prepare for your visit with our list of questions.