Definitions of intracranial aneurysm size and morphology: A call for standardization

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are classified based on size (maximal dome diameter) as well as additional parameters such as neck diameter and dome-to-neck ratio (DNR). The neurosurgical literature includes a wide variety of definitions for both IA size and neck classifications. Standardizing the definitions of IA size and wide-neck classifications would help eliminate inconsistencies and potential misunderstandings of aneurysm morphology and rupture risk.

We queried the MEDLINE (EBSCO) database using the terms "unruptured IA" and ("small" or "medium" or "large") and filtered based on publication date, language, and scholarly journals. The resulting articles and their references were further screened for eligibility. This identified 286 records, of which 104 were excluded, leaving 182 articles for analysis. The review found several different IA size classifications and neck classifications.

A review of the existing literature describing size and neck classifications revealed 13 size classifications for small aneurysms, four classifications for medium aneurysms, 15 classifications for large aneurysms, and one classification for giant aneurysms. There were also seven different wide-neck classifications found.

It is imperative that a standardization in classification be implemented to help interventionalists make the most informed decisions regarding emerging treatment options as new endovascular technologies and devices are emerging with indications based around these classifications. Based on the database findings, this article recommends standardized quantitative measurement ranges for IA size and neck classifications.