Ruptured distal middle cerebral artery aneurysm

Object. Ruptured distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms are uncommon, and their clinical and radiological features are poorly understood. To clarify characteristics of these lesions, the authors undertook a retrospective analysis of nine patients with ruptured distal MCA aneurysms. Methods. The medical records of patients who underwent surgical repair of ruptured intracranial aneurysms between 1988 and 2002 at Shinshu University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals were retrospectively evaluated. The authors found only nine patients with a ruptured distal MCA aneurysm, and their clinical, neuroimaging, and intraoperative findings were evaluated. Conclusions. This study of nine patients with distal MCA aneurysms is the largest series to date. Eight lesions were saccular aneurysms that were clipped and the remaining one was a mycotic aneurysm that was trapped. Eight of the nine patients suffered cerebral hematomas with subarachnoid hemorrhage. All patients had good outcomes after obliteration of their aneurysm, although their preoperative condition was not good.