Stroke/Cerebrovascular Aneurysm

Also known as: brain hemorrhage, brain clot, brain aneurysm, cerebral aneurysm, intracranial aneurysm, intracerebral aneurysm

What is stroke/cerebrovascular aneurysm?

A stroke is the term used to describe what happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or interrupted and brain cells are damaged or die. A cerebrovascular aneurysm describes a brain blood vessel when it's wall has become weak, bulges and balloons, and fills with blood. The aneurysm can put pressure on brain tissue or nearby nerves. They most commonly occur in the blood vessels around the underside of the brain.

The main risk of a cerebrovascular aneurysm is that they may leak blood or burst (rupture) and bleed. This can lead to stroke.They are rare in children and when they do occur, boys are almost twice as often affected.

What causes pediatric/cerebrovascular aneurysm?

In children cerebral aneurysms are often associated with head trauma, infections (mycotic aneurysm), arteriovenous malformations, vessel dissections or gene mutations that interfere with the supporting tissue of the blood vessel.

In a third of cases cerebral aneurysms are associated with other medical conditions like sickle cell anemia.

What are the symptoms of brain aneurysm in children?

Often the cerebrovascular aneurysm will present no symptoms until it has grown quite large and presses on the brain or nearby nerves, or when it hemorrhages. In these situations, children will present with neurological abnormalities and/or epilepsy or complain of:

  • a horrendous headache
  • vomiting
  • vision problems
  • weakness or paralysis
  • seizures or stroke

What are brain aneurysm treatment options?

Treatment depends on the size, position and/or symptoms. Surgery or vessel blockage may be utilized.


Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf

This page was last updated on: April 02, 2021 04:22 PM