scholarly journals Shedding the Light on the Natural History of Intracranial Aneurysms: An Updated Overview

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 742
Author(s):  
Alice Giotta Lucifero ◽  
Matías Baldoncini ◽  
Nunzio Bruno ◽  
Renato Galzio ◽  
Juha Hernesniemi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Phenotypic Switching ◽  
Inflammatory Cascade ◽  
Vessel Remodeling ◽  
Aneurysm Wall ◽  
History Of ◽  
Aneurysm Growth

The exact molecular pathways underlying the multifactorial natural history of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are still largely unknown, to the point that their understanding represents an imperative challenge in neurovascular research. Wall shear stress (WSS) promotes the genesis of IAs through an endothelial dysfunction causing an inflammatory cascade, vessel remodeling, phenotypic switching of the smooth muscle cells, and myointimal hyperplasia. Aneurysm growth is supported by endothelial oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators, whereas low and high WSS determine the rupture in sidewall and endwall IAs, respectively. Angioarchitecture, age older than 60 years, female gender, hypertension, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, and hypercholesterolemia also contribute to growth and rupture. The improvements of aneurysm wall imaging techniques and the implementation of target therapies targeted against inflammatory cascade may contribute to significantly modify the natural history of IAs. This narrative review strives to summarize the recent advances in the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying the genesis, growth, and rupture of IAs.

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms in children: 18 years’ experience in a tertiary care pediatric institution

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel-Alexandre Bisson ◽  
Peter Dirks ◽  
Afsaneh Amirabadi ◽  
Manohar M. Shroff ◽  
Timo Krings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mean Size

OBJECTIVEThere are little data in the literature on the characteristics and natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in children. The authors analyzed their experience with unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the pediatric population at their tertiary care pediatric institution over the last 18 years. The first objective was to assess the imaging characteristics and natural history of these aneurysms in order to help guide management strategies in the future. A second objective was to evaluate the frequency of an underlying condition when an incidental intracranial aneurysm was detected in a child.METHODSThe authors conducted a Research Ethics Board–approved retrospective review of incidental intracranial aneurysms in patients younger than 18 years of age who had been treated at their institution in the period from 1998 to 2016. Clinical (age, sex, syndrome) and radiological (aneurysm location, type, size, thrombus, mass effect) data were recorded. Follow-up imaging was assessed for temporal changes.RESULTSSixty intracranial aneurysms occurred in 51 patients (36 males, 15 females) with a mean age of 10.5 ± 0.5 years (range 9 months–17 years). Forty-five patients (88.2%) had a single aneurysm, while 2 and 3 aneurysms were found in 3 patients each (5.8%). Syndromic association was found in 22 patients (43.1%), most frequently sickle cell disease (10/22 [45.5%]). Aneurysms were saccular in 43 cases (71.7%; mean size 5.0 ± 5.7 mm) and fusiform in the remaining 17 (28.3%; mean size 6.5 ± 2.7 mm). Thirty-one aneurysms (51.7%) arose from the internal carotid artery (right/left 1.4), most commonly in the cavernous segment (10/31 [32.3%]). Mean size change over the entire follow-up of 109 patient-years was a decrease of 0.6 ± 4.2 mm (range −30.0 to +4.0 mm, rate −0.12 ± 9.9 mm/yr). Interval growth (2.0 ± 1.0 mm) was seen in 8 aneurysms (13.3%; 4 saccular, 4 fusiform). An interval decrease in size (8.3 ± 10.7 mm) was seen in 6 aneurysms (10%). There was an inverse relationship between aneurysm size and growth rate (r = −0.82, p < 0.00001). One aneurysm was treated endovascularly with internal carotid artery sacrifice.CONCLUSIONSUnruptured pediatric intracranial aneurysms are most frequently single but can occur in multiples in a syndromic setting. None of the cases from the study period showed clinical or imaging signs of rupture. Growth over time, although unusual and slow, can occur in a proportion of these patients, who should be identified for short-term imaging surveillance.

scholarly journals Natural History of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-191
Author(s):  
Jun C. Takahashi ◽  
Hiroharu Kataoka ◽  
Tetsu Satow ◽  
Hisae Mori
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
History Of

The natural history of intracranial venous angiomas

1991 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 715-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy B. Garner ◽  
O. Del Curling ◽  
David L. Kelly ◽  
D. Wayne Laster
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Venous Drainage ◽  
Vascular Lesion ◽  
Neurological Dysfunction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
History Of ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
Venous Angiomas ◽  
Fine Print

✓ Cerebral venous angiomas are congenital anomalies of the intracranial venous drainage. Many believe that they are associated with a high risk of hemorrhage and neurological dysfunction, but newer neurodiagnostic imaging techniques are showing not only that they are more common than previously known but also that many have no associated symptoms. In this retrospective study, the natural history of venous angiomas was examined in 100 patients (48 males and 52 females) with radiographically identifiable lesions treated over a 14-year period. Information on the natural history of the lesion was obtained from clinical records and follow-up data. Imaging studies included angiography, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Angioma locations were classified as frontal (42 cases), parietal (24 cases), occipital (4 cases), temporal (2 cases), basal or ventricular (11 cases), cerebellar (14 cases), or brain stem (3 cases); 47 lesions were on the left side. Headache as a presenting symptom was common (36 patients) and often led to other radiographic studies, but this appeared to be related to the vascular lesion in only four patients. Other possibly related complications were hemorrhage in one patient, seizures in five, and transient focal deficits in eight. Fifteen patients had no neurological signs or symptoms. The mean patient age at last contact was 45.3 years (range 3 to 94 years). All patients have been managed without surgery. It is concluded that significant complications secondary to venous angiomas are infrequent and that surgical resection of these lesions and of surrounding brain is rarely indicated.

Small (< 10-mm) incidentally found intracranial aneurysms, Part 1: reasons for detection, demographics, location, and risk factors in 212 consecutive patients

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. E3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Loumiotis ◽  
Anne Wagenbach ◽  
Robert D. Brown ◽  
Giuseppe Lanzino
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Imaging Study ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Common Location ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Paraclinoid Aneurysms ◽  
History Of

Object The widespread use of imaging techniques for evaluating nonspecific symptoms (vertigo, dizziness, memory concerns, unsteadiness, and the like) and focal neurological symptoms related to cerebrovascular disease has led to increased identification of asymptomatic incidentally discovered unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). The management of these incidental aneurysms is controversial and many factors need to be considered. The authors describe reasons leading to diagnosis, demographics, and risk factors in a large consecutive series of patients with small incidentally found UIAs. Methods The authors prospectively evaluated 335 patients harboring 478 small (< 10-mm) UIAs between January 2008 and May 2011. Patients with known aneurysms, possibly symptomatic aneurysms, arteriovenous malformation–related aneurysms, patients with a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage from another aneurysm, and patients harboring extradural aneurysms were excluded from the analysis. Only truly incidental small aneurysms (272 aneurysms in 212 patients) were considered for the present analysis. Data regarding the reason for detection, demographics, location, and presence of potential risk factors for aneurysm formation were prospectively collected. Results There were 158 female (74.5%) and 54 male (25.5%) patients whose mean age was 60.6 years (median 62 years). The most common reason for undergoing the imaging study that led to a diagnosis of the aneurysms was evaluation for nonspecific spells and symptoms related to focal cerebrovascular ischemia (43.4%), known/possible intracranial or neck pathology (24%), and headache (16%). The most common location (27%) of the aneurysm was the middle cerebral artery; the second most common (22%) was the paraclinoid internal carotid artery (excluding cavernous sinus aneurysms). Sixty-nine percent of patients were current or prior smokers, 60% had a diagnosis of hypertension, and 23% had one or more relatives with a history of intracranial aneurysms with or without subarachnoid hemorrhage. Conclusions Small incidental UIAs are more commonly diagnosed in elderly individuals during imaging performed to investigate ill-defined spells or focal cerebrovascular ischemic symptoms, or during the evaluation of known or probable unrelated intracranial/neck pathology. Hypertension, smoking, and family history of aneurysms are common in this patient population, and the presence of these risk factors has important implications for treatment recommendations. Although paraclinoid aneurysms (excluding intracavernous aneurysms) are uncommon in patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms, this location is very common in patients with small incidental UIAs.

Current implications for the efficacy of noninvasive screening for occult intracranial aneurysms in patients with a family history of aneurysms

1995 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy A. Obuchowski ◽  
Michael T. Modic ◽  
Michele Magdinec
Keyword(s):  
Family History ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Positive Family History ◽  
Aneurysm Rupture ◽  
Average Life Expectancy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rupture Rate ◽  
History Of

✓ Although the technology exists for accurate noninvasive screening for intracranial aneurysms, the efficacy of screening depends on several key parameters of the natural history of aneurysms. Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms may reach 20% in the subpopulation of patients with a family history of these lesions; other key parameters are less certain. The authors investigated factors that impact the efficacy of screening to establish interim guidelines. Three plausible models for the natural history of aneurysms were constructed. For each model the monetary cost of screening and the average gain in life expectancy were computed for a range of screening ages and prevalence rates. It is shown that the efficacy of screening depends on the pattern of aneurysm rupture. If aneurysms develop and rupture rapidly, then screening has no benefit. On the other hand, if aneurysms remain at risk for some time after formation, then screening may improve average life expectancy depending on when it occurs. The authors recommend that patients with a positive family history of aneurysms who are 30 years of age or younger be screened. This recommendation is based on the belief that the gains attributable to screening, assuming a constant rupture rate, outweigh the losses attributable to screening using a decreasing rupture rate model.

The Natural History of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

1981 ◽  
Vol 304 (12) ◽  
pp. 696-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
David O. Wiebers ◽  
Jack P. Whisnant ◽  
W. Michael O'Fallon
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
History Of

Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerosis: Natural History of Medical Management Beyond the Hyperacute Stage of Ischemic Stroke in the Post-SAMMPRIS Era

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-72
Author(s):  
Anand G. Vaishnav ◽  
Radhika A. Vaishnav
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Recurrent Stroke ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Unfavorable Outcome ◽  
Stroke Recurrence ◽  
Atherosclerotic Stenosis ◽  
History Of

Background: A major cause of ischemic stroke (IS) worldwide, especially in Asia, is intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS), which is also associated with the high risk of recurrent stroke. Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the natural history of symptomatic ICAS ischemic stroke (ICAS IS) patients. Materials and Methods: We collected data on acute ICAS IS patients beyond the hyperacute IS phase to determine stroke recurrence and mortality at a tertiary care neurology hospital. Data were collected on basic demographics and traditional risk factors such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, tobacco abuse, and hyperlipidemia, and statistical analysis was done. The primary endpoint was to measure the unfavorable outcome as defined by recurrent stroke or death from any cause. Results: The mean follow-up time for the total 87 patients was 24.5 months. Nine patients (10.3%) had an unfavorable outcome in the follow-up period; 2 (2.3%) of them had recurrent IS. Age was a predictor of the unfavorable outcome ( P = .0025), whereas hyperlipidemia was present more in patients with the favorable outcome ( P = .033). There was a tendency for patients with poor outcomes to have a higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at their onset of stroke. Conclusions: Aggressive medical treatment was associated with a relatively low risk of recurrent stroke in our ICAS IS population. This study provides groundwork for larger studies that can take into account clinical and newer imaging techniques to improve secondary prevention in ICAS IS patients.

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