The natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.
Since the publication of preliminary results from the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in 1998 there has been a great deal of debate concerning the natural history of these lesions and their attendant risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Therefore, the authors reviewed a selected number of crucial studies concerning this topic to determine the best evidence-based estimate of a rupture rate for these lesions. Based on this analysis, the yearly risk of bleeding for an unruptured intracranial aneurysm is estimated to be approximately 1% for aneurysms 7 to 10 mm in diameter. This risk of rupture increases with aneurysm size and it likewise diminishes as the size of the lesion decreases. This general rule serves as a reasonable interpretation of the results reported in the current body of literature.
Mocco
J
J
Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Komotar
Ricardo J
RJ
Lavine
Sean D
SD
Meyers
Philip M
PM
Connolly
E Sander
ES
Solomon
Robert A
RA
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors