Giant intracranial aneurysms

Giant intracranial aneurysms

Types of brain aneurisms:

• saccular ("berry") aneurism – can be giant
• fusiform aneurism – can be giant
• dissecting aneurism
• mycotic aneurism

Classification based on aneurisms size:

• ≤6 mm – small aneurism
• 7 to 12 mm – medium aneurism
• 13 to 24 mm – large aneurism
• ≥25 mm – giant aneurism

Giant intracranial aneurysms with a diameter greater than 2 cm in patients have the same location, and that small aneurysms. The most commonly giant aneurysm of cerebral arteries are located in the department of intracerebral internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery bifurcation and at the top of the basilar artery. Although they can break, such aneurysms usually cause neurological symptoms due to compression of the brain to increase in size.

The development of brain edema in the case of its compression by giant aneurysm could become irreversible and lead to a marked compression of the brain and the patient's death. This outcome is especially likely if a giant aneurysm located at the bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery. In this case, neurosurgical operation aimed at decompression of the brain is the only adequate treatment. Such an operation with a giant aneurysm of the cerebral artery is feasible technically difficult and often produces complications of cerebral edema in a patient.