Aneurysm Questions
December 23, 2014 | 15,00 EUR | answered by med. pract. Arzt Online
Dear Sir or Madam,
I unfortunately suffer from anxiety disorders related to illnesses and have some questions about a brain aneurysm.
To start off, I am in my early 20s with no family history of ruptured aneurysms. How do aneurysms form and how quickly do they grow? For example, if a normal MRI comes back negative, how long can one go without worrying?
How can they be detected in screening, I have read that an MRA is conclusive but would a regular MRI suffice? If one undergoes an MRA, how long can one be certain that there is no aneurysm present with a negative result?
Do aneurysms only burst once they reach a certain size or is that independent?
Thank you very much for your help.
Sincerely,
Dear inquirer,
thank you for your trust. Here is my response:
Considering your information, it is extremely unlikely that you have developed an aneurysm. The likelihood of developing aneurysms increases significantly at a much older age and in conjunction with conditions such as high blood pressure. Aneurysms typically grow very slowly over the years.
An MRI is usually very informative, even a "normal" MRI (as vascular sequences are usually included in most cases). Specifically with this question in mind, radiologists can confidently rule out aneurysms of medically relevant size. An MRA with contrast agent is not recommended in your case without a medical indication.
The likelihood of an aneurysm rupturing increases with its size, but is very unlikely under one centimeter. Aneurysms of 1cm can be confidently ruled out by radiologists and are also rare.
So, you don't have to worry. An additional MRI examination is not indicated in your case. You can discuss this topic with your general practitioner again. They can provide you with tips on how to further reduce the likelihood of developing an aneurysm.
I wish you good health and a happy holiday season.
Best regards
