Management of multiple and unruptured cerebral aneurysms

Abstract

The incidence of multiple aneurysms was 10.7–34% of CA. Multiple associated factors were found; hypertension was the most significant one and others like advancing age and female sex were also documented. The estimated prevalence of UA is 5–10%. They include those aneurysms that did not rupture and discovered incidentally and those presented with symptoms rather than SAH, e.g., cranial nerve palsy or mass effect. Unruptured intracranial aneurysms are diagnosed with higher frequency nowadays as a result of imaging techniques improvement. The reported annual rate of rupture of UA is approximately 0.7–1%. The natural history of unruptured cerebral aneurysms cannot be extrapolated from the evaluation of individuals with ruptured aneurysms. Multiple cerebral aneurysms pose an even greater risk than a single aneurysm; the risk of rebleeding from the original aneurysm is larger and occurs sooner. The natural course of the disease has led to a consensus that all multiple unruptured aneurysms should be treated when technically viable. However, the prophylactic treatment of multiple unruptured is still controversial. Weighing the risk of intervention to the risk of observation is a mandatory pathway. Factors like age of patients, size and location of the aneurysms influence the decision-making and the type of therapy to be elected.