A comparative study of 43 patients with mirror-like intracranial aneurysms: risk factors, treatment, and prognosis
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Published on: August 11, 2015
Rong Wang1, Dong Zhang1, Jizong Zhao1
1Neurosurgical Department, Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Background And Objective:
Mirror-like intracranial aneurysms (MirAn) occur symmetrically at the corresponding intracranial arteries and are a subgroup of multiple intracranial aneurysms. The aim of this study was to analyze the risk factors, treatment, and prognosis of MirAn.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 43 cases of MirAn diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2009. The control groups comprised patients with non-mirror-like multiple aneurysms (nMirAn) and single aneurysms (SingAn). Sex, age, localization of MirAn, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and rupture were identified as potential risk factors for MirAn.
Results:
The male to female ratio of the MirAn patients was 1.0:5.1, which was significantly different from that of the nMirAn patients (1.0:1.9, P=0.037) and SingAn patients (1.0:1.3, P<0.001). There was no difference in age (P=0.8741), smoking (P=0.301), diabetes (P=0.267), or hypertension (P=0.874) between the MirAn and nMirAn patients. The aneurysms in 28 MirAn patients (65.1%) involved the internal carotid-posterior communicating arteries; in these patients, the rupture risk was significantly higher for larger aneurysms compared with smaller aneurysms (P<0.05).
Conclusion:
More women suffered from MirAn than nMirAn or SingAn. The most common MirAn sites were the internal carotid-posterior communicating arteries. Our results suggest that MirAn was not associated with age, smoking, hypertension, or diabetes.
Insights
Mirror-like intracranial aneurysms (MirAn) disproportionately affect women and commonly occur in the internal carotid-posterior communicating arteries. These aneurysms are not linked to age, smoking, diabetes, or hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Mirror-like intracranial aneurysms (MirAn) are a specific subtype of multiple intracranial aneurysms, characterized by symmetrical occurrence.
- Understanding the unique characteristics of MirAn is crucial for effective diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the risk factors, treatment modalities, and prognosis associated with mirror-like intracranial aneurysms.
- To compare the characteristics of MirAn with non-mirror-like multiple aneurysms (nMirAn) and single aneurysms (SingAn).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 43 MirAn cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2009.
- Comparison with control groups: nMirAn and SingAn.
- Evaluation of potential risk factors including sex, age, aneurysm location, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and rupture status.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher female predominance was observed in MirAn patients (1.0:5.1) compared to nMirAn (1.0:1.9) and SingAn (1.0:1.3) groups.
- No significant differences were found in age, smoking, diabetes, or hypertension between MirAn and nMirAn patients.
- The internal carotid-posterior communicating arteries were the most frequent sites for MirAn (65.1%), with larger aneurysms showing a higher rupture risk.
Conclusions:
- MirAn exhibit a distinct female predilection and commonly involve the internal carotid-posterior communicating arteries.
- Risk factors such as age, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes were not found to be significantly associated with MirAn.
- These findings highlight the specific epidemiological and anatomical features of MirAn.
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