2008 Volume 30 Issue 1 Pages 14-17
Background and purpose:Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients with ruptured aneurysms smaller than 5 mm in diameter are sometimes encountoied at our hospital. However, the operative indication for unruptured aneurysm is over 5 mm according to the JAPANESE SOCIETY FOR DETECTION OF ASYMPTOMATIC BRAIN DISEASES. We therefore analyzed the characteristics of ruptured aneurysms smaller than 5 mm in diameter. Methods:A retrospective review of all SAH patients using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) between April 1999 and March 2004 was conducted. We compared 201 SAH patients with DSA (group A) and 61 with aneurysms smaller than 5 mm (group B). Age, gender, familial history, hypertension, and location of the ruptured aneurysm were examined. Results:In males younger than 40 years old, anterior communicating artery/distal anterior cerebral artery (Acom/DACA) aneurysms were significantly correlated with group B rather than group A. Familial history and hypertension were not found to be characteristic in group B in this study. Conclusion:Small unruptured aneurysms may have a risk of rupture especially in young males with Acom/DACA aneurysms. Further investigations on small aneurysms are needed.
