Intracranial Aneurysms

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The optimal treatment of a patient with an intracranial aneurysm is dependent upon the physician's understanding of the natural history of this disease. This survey considers the natural history of intracranial aneurysms and the appropriate initial treatment of a patient suspected of harboring this lesion. We hope that this material will assist the primary physician in assessing the probable course of his patient's illness. This survey is based upon a review of the literature tempered by the experience of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington, Seattle. Incidence of Aneurysms Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a relatively common occurrence; best estimates imply an incidence of 16 cases per 100,000 population per year, or 32,000 cases of SAH per year in the United States.1Fifty percent of the cases of SAH are due to ruptured aneurysm; therefore, about 16,000 patients suffer a ruptured aneurysm every year in the