Brain Aneurysm

Also called: Berry aneurysm, Cerebral aneurysm, Intracranial aneurysm

A brain aneurysm is an abnormal bulge or "ballooning" in the wall of an artery in the brain. They are sometimes called berry aneurysms because they are often the size of a small berry. Most brain aneurysms produce no symptoms until they become large, begin to leak blood, or rupture.

If a brain aneurysm presses on nerves in your brain, it can cause signs and symptoms. These can include:

• A droopy eyelid
• Double vision or other changes in vision
• Pain above or behind the eye
• A dilated pupil
• Numbness or weakness on one side of the face or body

Treatment depends on the size and location of the aneurysm, whether it is infected, and whether it has ruptured. If a brain aneurysm ruptures, symptoms can include a sudden, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, loss of consciousness, and signs of a stroke. Any of these symptoms require immediate medical attention.

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• Cerebral Aneurysm(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Latest News Diagnosis/Symptoms Treatment	Rehabilitation/Recovery Specific Conditions	Tutorials Videos
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Clinical Trials Research Journal Articles	Dictionaries/Glossaries Directories Organizations	Children

• Overviews
  • Brain Aneurysm(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Cerebral Aneurysm(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

    Also available in Spanish

• Latest News
  • Fewer Deaths Occurring From Brain Bleeds(06/04/2009, HealthDay)
• Diagnosis/Symptoms
  • Angiogram(Society for Vascular Surgery)
  • Brain Aneurysm Warning Signs/Symptoms(Brain Aneurysm Foundation)
  • Catheter Angiography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Duplex Ultrasound(Society for Vascular Surgery)
  • MR Angiography (MRA)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Thunderclap Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Treatment
  • Brain Aneurysm Embolization(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Brain Aneurysm Treatment Options(Brain Aneurysm Foundation)
  • Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  • Treatment Options for Cerebral Aneurysms(American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
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• Rehabilitation/Recovery
  • Brain Aneurysm Recovery(Brain Aneurysm Foundation)
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• Specific Conditions
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage(Brain Aneurysm Foundation)
  • Unruptured Brain Aneurysms(Brain Aneurysm Foundation)
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• Tutorials
  • Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute)

    Also available in Spanish

  Return to top
• Videos
  • Clipping and Coiling: Treatment Options for Brain Aneurysms(OR-Live) - One hour program - 8/01/2006
  • If I Had - The Worst Headache of My Life(Insidermedicine)
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• Clinical Trials
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Intracranial Aneurysm(National Institutes of Health)
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• Research
  • Close Relatives of Intracranial Aneurysm Patients May Have Increased Risk of Condition(American Heart Association)
  • State of the Art of Medicine: Deciding on Preventive Screening Tests After Bleeding in the Brain(American Academy of Neurology)
  • Treating Brain Hemorrhage Early at High-Volume Centers Improves Outcomes(American Heart Association)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: High flow extracranial to intracranial vascular bypass procedure for giant...
  • Article: Clinical decisions. Care of an unresponsive patient with a poor...
  • Article: Reporting standards for endovascular repair of saccular intracranial cerebral aneurysms.
  • Brain Aneurysm -- see more articles
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• Dictionaries/Glossaries
  • Glossary of Neurosurgical Terms(American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
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• Directories
  • Find a Board-Certified Neurosurgeon(American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons)
  • Find a Vascular Specialist(Society for Vascular Surgery)
  • Find an Accredited Echocardiography Laboratory or Vascular Laboratory(American Society of Echocardiography)
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• Organizations
  • Brain Aneurysm Foundation
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

    Also available in Spanish

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• Children
  • Aneurysms(Children's Hospital Boston)
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• Related Topics

  • Aneurysms
  • Blood, Heart and Circulation
  • Brain and Nerves

  • National Institutes of Health

    • The primary NIH organization for research on Brain Aneurysm is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke