Giant intracranial aneurysms simulating brain neoplasms on computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Giant intracranial aneurysms (GIA) pose diagnostic challenges.
• Computed tomography (CT) is a primary imaging modality for brain lesions.

Observation:

• Three cases are presented where GIA were misdiagnosed as brain neoplasms based on CT findings.
• CT characteristics included well-circumscribed masses without edema at the brain base.

Findings:

• Cerebral angiography confirmed GIA in all three cases, correcting the initial CT-based diagnosis.
• Contrast-enhanced CT may show homogeneous or inhomogeneous enhancement in GIA.

Implications:

• Radiologists and clinicians should consider GIA in the differential diagnosis of brain masses on CT.
• Cerebral angiography remains essential for definitive diagnosis of suspected GIA.
• Accurate differentiation prevents misdiagnosis and guides appropriate treatment strategies for intracranial vascular lesions.