Brain aneurysm

Overview

A brain aneurysm, also called a cerebral aneurysm, is an abnormal bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel supplying your brain (cerebrum). The weakened area forms a sac or small balloon that fills with blood. Brain aneurysms usually occur at branching points of arteries.

Brain aneurysms can rupture and cause bleeding into your brain. This usually occurs in the area between your brain and the surrounding membrane (the arachnoid), called the subarachnoid space, causing a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Many small brain aneurysms, especially those located on the arteries in the front part of your brain, have a low risk of rupture. However, ruptured brain aneurysms can lead to stroke and other complications that can lead to severe disability and death.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for brain aneurysm

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain conditions (neurologists), brain surgery (neurosurgeons) and nonsurgical treatments (neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists) have experience treating people who have brain aneurysms and other brain and blood vessel conditions (cerebrovascular diseases). Mayo Clinic is one of the nation's largest treatment and research centers for cerebrovascular diseases.
• Team approach. Mayo Clinic neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists and others work together to evaluate and treat people who have brain aneurysms.
• Diagnostic tests. Mayo Clinic doctors evaluate people who have brain aneurysms with computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, cerebral arteriography, cerebrospinal fluid examination and other tests. Your doctor may use these tests to diagnose an unruptured aneurysm and determine its size, location and other characteristics, and assess the aneurysm's risk of rupture. Doctors also use these tests to diagnose a ruptured aneurysm, which needs emergency treatment.
• Treatment expertise. Mayo Clinic doctors have expertise treating brain aneurysms with endovascular techniques such as coiling and coiling in combination with stenting, other new endovascular techniques, surgery and other options.
• Efficient system. Mayo Clinic doctors diagnose your condition and develop your treatment plan, often in a few days.
• Individualized treatment. Mayo Clinic doctors work with you closely to develop an individualized treatment plan to prevent a brain hemorrhage based on your brain aneurysm's size and location, its risk of rupture, other aneurysm features, consideration of any family history of aneurysm rupture, your medical condition, and your preference after your consultation with Mayo Clinic doctors.
• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors conduct research in potential causes, risks, diagnostic tests and treatments for brain aneurysms and other brain conditions and conduct clinical trials.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals in neurology and neurosurgery.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart

Read more about diagnosis and treatment of brain aneurysm.