Cerebral aneurysm

Alternative names:

aneurysm - cerebral

Symptoms:

Symptoms of a bleed may include:

• sudden occurrence of a headache (severe or described as "the worst in patient's experience")
• headaches with nausea or vomiting
• stiff neck (occasionally)
• muscle weakness, difficulty moving any part of the body
• numbness or decreased sensation in any part of the body
• vision changes
• eye lid drooping
• changes in mental status, the person may be lethargic, sleepy, or stuporous
• seizures
• slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
• speech impairment
• irritability or poor temper control

Note: Cerebral aneurysms have no symptoms until complications such as bleeding occur.

Signs and tests:

There may be signs of increased pressure within the brain (intracranial pressure) including swelling of the optic nerve (papilledema) that is shown on eye examination.

Cerebral aneurysm is usually diagnosed by tests to determine the cause of bleeding within the brain.

• A CT scan of the head indicates bleeding and occasionally locates the aneurysm.
• A CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) examination may confirm bleeding when CT scan is non-diagnostic.
• An MRI of the head may be an alternative to a CT scan, but is not as sensitive to bleeding within the brain (subarachnoid bleeding).
• Cerebral angiography pinpoints the location of the aneurysm(s).
• EEG (electroencephalogram) may be performed if seizures occur.