title: True aneurysms of the posterior communicating artery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review and analyze systematically the reported cases of "true" posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysm.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the published literature was performed, and a meta-analysis of individual patient data was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pooled data showed that "true" PCoA aneurysms represent about 1.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8%, 1.7%) of all intracranial aneurysms and 6.8% (95% CI 4.3%, 9.2%) of all PCoA aneurysms. Mean patient age was 53.5 years (53.5 years ± 15.4), and age range was 23-79 years. Of the 49 patients reported in the literature, 44 (89.8%) were reported as ruptured, and 4 (10.2%) were reported as unruptured. There were no significant differences in ruptured status between age (P = 0.321), left vs right aneurysm (P = 0.537), and shape of aneurysm (P = 0.408). No significant differences in complication rates were found between rupture status (P = 0.27), and operative modalities (P = 0.878). The mean ages of patients who had no complications and patients who had complications were 53 years (53 years ± 2.59) vs 53.2 years (53.2 years ± 5.02) (P = 0.972).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "True" PCoA aneurysms represent about 1.3% of all intracranial aneurysms and 6.8% of all PCoA aneurysms. They are more prone to rupture compared with their counterpart junctional aneurysms. When surgical management is indicated, a good understanding of the location and configuration of the aneurysm neck before surgical treatment is critical in the successful treatment of these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Wenzhuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Chirag D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Prestigiacomo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult