Brain aneurysm
Intracranial or cerebral aneurysm
A bulge that forms in the blood vessels of your brain
What is a brain aneurysm?
Individuals are not born with arterial aneurysms, they arise during life and the risk factors include smoking and high blood pressure. Other diseases such as polycystic kidneys can also play a role.
Brain aneurysms are more common in people over the age of 40, and women tend to be affected more than men.
Need to know
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What are the symptoms of brain aneurysm? icon plus
Most brain aneurysms only cause symptoms if they rupture. This is a medical emergency. Symptoms may include an excruciating headache, which comes on suddenly and is associated with:
- neck pain
- nausea and/or vomiting
- numbness or weakness in one side of your face and/or body
- dizziness and/or disorientation
- cute sensitivity to light
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Diagnosis icon plus
Your consultant will perform some, or all, of the following tests to confirm a diagnosis:
- MRI scan. This is usually used to detect brain aneurysms that have not ruptured, but is also used to look at the arteries in detail (MR angiogram).
- CT scan. This is usually the preferred type of scan if there is a history suggestive of haemorrhage. CT scans within 3 days of a bleed are very reliable at detecting blood.
- Angiography (digital subtraction — DSA). This involves injecting contrast into the arteries of your brain through a catheter (narrow tube) to give clear pictures of the brain arteries.
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Potential treatment options icon plus
- Monitoring with MRI scans at yearly intervals, if the aneurysm has not burst and is considered low-risk (normally under 5mm in diameter).
- Coiling or stenting of the aneurysm using minimally invasive radiology techniques.
- Clipping. Increasingly this is not necessary but sometimes remains the best option for treatment. A titanium spring clip is placed across the ‘neck’ of the aneurysm where it arises from the parent artery, so it can no longer fill, removing the risk of a future bleed.
Our neurology consultants
We're proud to work with leading neurology consultants who specialise in diagnosing and managing brain conditions. Our neurologists work closely with leading neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons at HCA UK, to ensure neurological conditions are treated and managed effectively.
Our locations
From complex neurosurgery to diagnostic tests and procedures, we provide exceptional neurosurgical care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.
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The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place
St John's Wood
London NW8 9LE
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London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2PR
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The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street
London W1G 8BJ
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Chelsea Outpatients
272 & 280 Kings Road
London SW3 5AW
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The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road
London
SW1W 8RH
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Devonshire Diagnostic Centre
16 Devonshire Street
Marylebone
London W1G 7AF
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HCA UK at The Shard
The Shard
32 St Thomas Street
London SE1 9BS
Request an appointment
We're happy to help you make an appointment with one of our experienced consultants in neurology or neurosurgery
Call us on
020 7079 4344