What is a Cerebral
Aneurysm?

A cerebral aneurysm, also known as a brain aneurysm, is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel in the brain. These aneurysms can be life-threatening if they rupture, as they can cause bleeding in the brain, also known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

What are the Symptoms
of a Cerebral (Brain)
Aneurysm?

For unruptured aneurysms, there are usually no symptoms at all, which is why it’s important to be aware of the risk factors for developing a cerebral aneurysm, especially a family history of brain aneurysms.

What Are The Symptoms of a Ruptured Cerebral (Brain) Aneurysm?

Symptoms of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm include a severe, sudden onset headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, sensitivity to light and sudden loss of consciousness.

What are the Risk Factors for Cerebral (Brain) Aneurysm?

Risk factors for cerebral aneurysms include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Family history of brain aneurysms
• Certain genetic conditions
• Individuals who have had a previous brain injury or infection
• Those who have used certain illegal drugs, such as cocaine

To reduce the risk of developing a cerebral aneurysm, it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, manage any existing health conditions, and avoid smoking. Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider can also help detect aneurysms early on, allowing for prompt treatment if necessary.

If you or a loved one have risk factors for developing a cerebral aneurysm, it’s important to undergo screening, typically with a special MRI of the brain called an MRA.

How Are Cerebral (Brain) Aneurysms Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of a cerebral aneurysm can be done through a variety of imaging tests, including a CT scan, an MRI, or an angiogram. Treatment options for a brain aneurysm depend on the size and location of the aneurysm, as well as the overall health of the patient.

What Are Treatments For Cerebral (Brain) Aneurysms?

Surgical options include clipping, which involves placing a clip at the base of the aneurysm to block it off from the rest of the blood vessel, or endovascular aneurysm coiling, which is a minimally invasive procedure that involves placing small metallic coils into the aneurysm to prevent blood flow. In some cases specialized stents are used as well.
It’s important to note that not all cerebral aneurysms require treatment, as they may be small and unlikely to rupture. However, if an aneurysm is found to be at high risk of rupture, aneurysm treatment is essential to prevent serious complications.
At New Jersey Brain and Spine, our Neurovascular team is specialty trained and highly experienced in the evaluation and treatment of brain aneurysms, we typically evaluate several hundred brain aneurysm patients per year and we perform over 100 aneurysm treatment procedures per year. Most of our patients are treated using minimally invasive endovascular aneurysm repair rather than open surgery.