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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
11:58
Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms
Published on: August 11, 2015
Cerebral aneurysms in children
1Department of Neurosurgery Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Brain & Development
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Childhood intracranial aneurysms are rare but can cause serious subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Repeated angiography is crucial for diagnosing these aneurysms, even if initial scans are negative.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
Background:
- Intracranial saccular aneurysms are uncommon in children, representing only 0.6-4.6% of all aneurysms.
- Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in childhood is a rare but serious condition.
Observation:
- Two pediatric cases of intracranial aneurysms are presented: a 12-year-old boy with sudden severe headaches and a 3-year-old boy with an incidentally discovered aneurysm.
- Initial CT indicated SAH in the first case, but angiography initially failed to identify the aneurysm. Repeat angiography revealed a small aneurysm successfully treated with a miniclip.
- In the second case, CT incidentally revealed a large aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery, which was surgically clipped despite compromise of the prefrontal artery.
Findings:
- Repeated angiography is essential for diagnosing childhood aneurysms, especially when initial imaging is negative.
- Childhood aneurysms are increasingly detected incidentally via CT scans.
- Surgical outcomes for pediatric aneurysms can be favorable, though challenges like vessel compromise may occur.
Implications:
- This study highlights the importance of persistent diagnostic efforts in pediatric SAH.
- Understanding the unique characteristics of childhood aneurysms is vital for effective management.
- Early and accurate diagnosis through advanced imaging and repeated angiography improves surgical outcomes in pediatric cerebrovascular disease.
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