title: Characteristics and endovascular treatment of aneurysms of posterior cerebral artery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aneurysms of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) are a distinct rarity and present with some peculiar morphologic features and specific clinical findings. These aneurysms can be managed endovascularly with good results.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical features and endovascular management of PCA aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2000 and 2008, we treated 24 patients (14 male and 10 female; mean age: 36 years) with PCA aneurysms. Clinical presentations, radiologic images, and endovascular management were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 11 saccular aneurysms, including 4 giant or large aneurysms, and 13 dissecting aneurysms, including 11 giant or large aneurysms. Of the 24 patients, 13 presented with hemorrhage and 6 with neurologic deficits. Five patients presented with headaches without any neurologic deficits. Parent vessel occlusion was performed in 12 patients, selective coil embolization was performed in 11 patients, and 1 patient conservatively. Eighteen patients had a good recovery, 5 had a moderate disability (one with 1 visual deficit after the treatment) related to hemorrhage, vasospasm, or infarction before aneurysm trapping, and 1 patient died because of rebleeding. The conservatively treated patient made a good recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCA aneurysms have specific clinical characteristics compared with aneurysms located elsewhere. Endovascular technique can achieve good outcomes despite the aneurysmal site and size.
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia National University, Tongliao, Inner Mongolia.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jinsuo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult