Mayo Clinic Study on Brain Aneurysms

A new international collaborative study led by Mayo Clinic found that the risk of a brain aneurysm rupturing over time depends on the location and size of the aneurysm.

A brain aneurysm, also known as an intracranial or cerebral aneurysm, is an abnormal sac or tiny balloon on a blood vessel to the brain. Aneurysms can rupture and bleed into the area between the brain and the surrounding membrane, leading to stroke and death. An estimated 2 percent of Americans, approximately 6 million people, have brain aneurysms. These aneurysms rupture in about 25,000 people each year.

This study provides us with very useful information that will allow us to better guide our patients with unruptured aneurysms regarding the risk of aneurysm rupture during a very long period of follow-up, says Robert Brown, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist and the studys lead investigator.

This study was part of the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms, which includes 4,059 patients with unruptured brain aneurysms at 61 different medical centers in North America and Europe. These patients have been followed for an average of more than nine years.

Dr. Brown and his team found that rupture risk was somewhat higher among patients with aneurysms in the back of the brain or in the posterior communicating artery, also in the back of the brain, compared to those in the front of the brain. Additionally, patients whose aneurysms were more than 13 millimeters (mm) in diameter were at least twice as likely to experience rupture, compared to those whose aneurysms were 712 mm in diameter.

This study will be presented at the 6th World Stroke Congress meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Sept. 25, 2008.

For more information from Mayo Clinic on aneurysms, click on the following link: http://www.mayoclinic.org/cerebral-aneurysm/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Mayo
• Clinic
• Aneurysms
• Rupture
• Brain
• Neurology
• Study

[JosephHuntington]

I go under the knife with this fellow on March 27, if I'm still well enough.

[kayd0503]

@lronglien ..I am a 51 y/o female that just underwent a craniotomy to double clip a posterior communicating artery aneurysm a week ago, April 20, 2010..I found out in December 2009 that I had a 10 mm aneurysm and the anticipation and anxiety was far worse than the..I am thrilled to state that I have no side effects what so ever and life is great!!..please feel free to contact me....God Bless

[lronglien]

I just set my clipping for 5/17...so scared..

[xanadukat]

Dr. Brown is my neurologist. In January of 2009 I had a craniotomy to repair an 11mm aneurysm, unruptured. I am doing quite well today.

God bless the doctors and staff of Mayo Clinic, Rochester!

[albrittons5]

Our 3 year old daughter passed away may12th 2008 from a 2cm brain aneurysm on the brain stem and they they have found small abnormalities in myself and our 6 year old son so i pray they continue to do research and do more research on children.

[greencontoursvt]

I had the microcoil procedure performed by Dr. Kallmes at Mayo in Rochester in July 2007. I was 16 at the time and I'm 18 now. I had 3 fusiform aneurysms all lumped together in my right carotid artery. The artery was sacrificed and after about 6 months of the worst headaches EVER I was released to normal activity. I will have to go back to Mayo every 3 years for an angiogram but it will be worth it bc i still have a small aneurysm in my middle cerebral artery that was inoperable.

[inyurdrms]

I am 54, on 05/02 I had the microcoil procedure performed to deposit 7 platinum pins in the sac. My only symptom was passing out was when it leaked. Neurologist said over 5cc leaked. I was in ICU for 12 days, total 18 days at the hospital due to the heatwave here. Went back to work 2 weeks later. On 08/01/08 i was released to full activity. No headaches, no deficits! Since August I've been doing strength/endurance training at the gym 5x a week. Living life! I may have an angio next month.

[FierceIndian07]

hey I have a serious question. how did you know before u actually have a aneurysm in your brain, I mean how did it feel, bcus I feel somethin a little weird in my head like every other once a 5months,

[omgstig]

i have had a cerebral aneurysm on the the left side off my brain and i was told i had an other one but it is small but it is on the right side i have found this very helpfill thank you

[Trusting4]

I will probably be viewing this video over and over again. I have a Left middle cerebral trifurcation aneurysm. CTA of the intracranial circulation was performed using a GE 16-slice Light Speed CT scanner. I received a intravenous injection of 125 cc of Optiray 320. The aneurysym measures approximately 3.5 mm in dimension and is directed anteriorty.

I don't understand all this but I am trying to learn about it all. Thank you for your video. I will review it often.