Abstract
Objective: Distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm is rare among intracranial aneurysms. In diagnosing and treating distal MCA aneurysms, it is important to note that it differs significantly from other aneurysms located around the circle of Willis. The purpose of this study is to identify the clinical characteristics of distal MCA aneurysms.Method: We encountered 12 patients with distal MCA aneurysms at our institution from January 2000 to March 2011. They correspond to 0.7% of all patients with cerebral aneurysms over the same period. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with distal MCA aneurysms which include important parameters such as onset type (ruptured/unruptured), presence or absence of intracerebral hematoma, size of the aneurysm, treatment, and outcome.Result: Nine patients had multiple aneurysms. Eight patients had aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Among the eight, 4 patients had a ruptured distal MCA aneurysm whereas the other 4 patients had ruptured non-distal MCA aneurysm and unruptured distal MCA aneurysm. Two patients with aneurysmal SAH had intracerebral hematoma. Eleven patients underwent clipping of distal MCA aneurysms.Conclusion: Distal MCA aneurysms differ from typical saccular aneurysms on major branch points of the circle of Willis and they need unique considerations in diagnosis and treatment.
