Cerebral aneurysm morphology before and after rupture: nation-wide case series of 29 aneurysms

Abstract

<p><i>Background and Purpose</i>: Using postrupture morphology to predict rupture risk of an intracranial aneurysm may be inaccurate because of possible morphological changes at or around the time of rupture. The present study aims at comparing morphology from angiograms obtained prior to and just after rupture and to evaluate whether postrupture morphology is an adequate surrogate for rupture risk.</p>

<p><i>Methods</i>: Case series of 29 aneurysms from a nationwide retrospective data collection. Two neuroradiologists who were blinded to pre- versus postrupture images assessed predefined morphological parameters independently and reached consensus regarding all measurements. Prerupture morphology and respective changes after rupture were quantified and linked to risk factors and to the risk of rupture according to the PHASES (population, hypertension, age, size of aneurysm, earlier subarachnoid hemorrhage from another aneurysm, site of aneurysm) and unruptured intracranial aneurysm treatment (UIAT) scores.</p>

<p><i>Results</i>: All 1-dimensional parameter medians were significantly larger after rupture, except neck diameter. Number of aneurysms with daughter sacs was 9 (31%) before and 17 (59%) after rupture (P=0.005). Aneurysm growth from the images prior to and just after rupture increased with the time elapsed between images. Aneurysms in patients with hypertension were significantly larger at diagnosis. Prerupture morphology did not differ in relation to smoke status. Clinical risk factors were not significantly associated with morphological change.</p>

<p><i>Conclusions</i>: The changes in aneurysm morphology observed after rupture reflect the compound effect of time with successive growth and formation of irregularities and the impact of rupture per se. Postrupture morphology should not be considered an adequate surrogate for the prerupture morphology in the evaluation of rupture risk.