title: Spontaneous internal carotid artery occlusion and rapid cerebral aneurysm progression: case series and literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An accurate determination of the natural history of a cerebral aneurysm has implications on management. Few risk factors other than female gender and cigarette smoking have been identified to be associated with cerebral aneurysm progression, particularly rapid progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case series and literature review serves to illustrate a relationship between spontaneous carotid occlusion and rapid enlargement of cerebral aneurysms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our case series, we demonstrated that increased hemodynamic stress on collateral vessels caused by a spontaneous carotid occlusion may contribute to unusually rapid aneurysm growth and/or rupture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spontaneous carotid occlusive disease may be considered a risk factor for rapid cerebral aneurysm progression and/or rupture that may warrant more aggressive management options, including more frequent surveillance imaging in previously treated aneurysms.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurological Surgery and Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Bakhsh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saaquib
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurological Surgery and Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Toll
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valerie
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Neimann
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurological Surgery and Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Aneurysm; Carotid occlusion; Rapid progression; Risk factors