title: Traumatic intracranial aneurysm in blunt trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is being used to identify traumatic intracranial aneurysms (TICA) in patients with findings such as skull fracture and intracranial haemorrhage on initial Computed Tomography (CT) scans after blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the incidence of TICA in patients with blunt TBI is unknown. The aim of this study is to report the incidence of TICA in patients with blunt TBI and to assess the utility of CTA in detecting these lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 10-year retrospective study (2003-2012) was performed at a Level 1 trauma centre. All patients with blunt TBI who had an initial non-contrasted head CT scan and a follow-up head CTA were included. Head CTAs were then reviewed by a single investigator and TICAs were identified. The primary outcome measure was incidence of TICA in blunt TBI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 10 257 patients with blunt TBI were identified, out of which 459 patients were included in the analysis. Mean age was 47.3 ± 22.5, the majority were male (65.1%) and median ISS was 16 [9-25]. Thirty-six patients (7.8%) had intracranial aneurysm, of which three patients (0.65%) had TICAs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of traumatic intracranial aneurysm was exceedingly low (0.65%) over 10-years. This study adds to the growing literature questioning the empiric use of CTA for detecting vascular injuries in patients with blunt TBI.
authors: Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona , Tucson, AZ , USA.
authors: Bardiya
authors: B
authors: Zangbar
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Wynne
authors: Bellal
authors: B
authors: Joseph
authors: Viraj
authors: V
authors: Pandit
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Meyer
authors: Narong
authors: N
authors: Kulvatunyou
authors: Mazhar
authors: M
authors: Khalil
authors: Terence
authors: T
authors: O'Keeffe
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Tang
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Lemole
authors: Randall S
authors: RS
authors: Friese
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Rhee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Blunt traumatic brain injury; computed tomography angiography; psuedoaneurysm; traumatic brain injury; traumatic intracranial aneurysm