Treatment Options for Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm

The management of unruptured cerebral aneurysm is controversial. Because the natural history of unruptured cerebral aneurysm is not well defined, the best management strategy is unclear. The current consensus on the management of unruptured cerebral aneurysm includes observation, microsurgical clipping, and endovascular treatment. The methodologies used to follow up a known unruptured aneurysm are controversial and may be dependent on the preferences of the treating physician. Most aneurysms are managed by the neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists, but neurologists often are the first to discover the unruptured aneurysms when screening the patients for other neurologic disorders. Therefore, the knowledge on when to screen patients for and how to best manage an unruptured aneurysm will have a direct impact on their daily practices. Unruptured aneurysms often cause other neurologic symptoms including ischemic events, seizures, and headache. These symptoms may prompt more interventional treatment. Without a thoughtfully designed, true population-based study or randomized trial, the current best management will be based on the available literature and the temporal profile of each patient.