Abstract
Purpose
We aimed to assess the natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms and considered the risk factors of their rupture.
Objectives and Methods
We assessed 192 unruptured aneurysms in 162 patients that were managed conservatively. Concerning the cases that presented subarachnoid hemorrhage during observation, we assessed the risk factors of rupture, including location, size, shape, and enlargement of aneurysms.
Results
Among 192 aneurysms, 36% were located at internal carotid artery, 32% at middle cerebral artery, 11% at vertebro-basilar artery, and 11% at anterior communicating artery. During observation, 9 aneurysms ruptured. Three aneurysms were located at basilar artery, 3 at middle cerebral artery, 1 at anterior communicating artery, 1 at distal anterior cerebral artery, and 1 at posterior cerebral artery. Among 9 cases, 5 had multiple aneurysms and 3 had previous history of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Four aneurysms were larger than 10 mm, but 4 were smaller than 5 mm. Enlargement of aneurysms were found in 4 cases. All cases had more than two risk factors of rupture.
Conclusions
We thought that even for patients of high age with unruptured aneurysms, if he has more than two risk factors of rupture, we have to consider surgical treatment positively.
