An aneurysm is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a section of a blood vessel. When an aneurysm occurs in the brain, it is called a cerebral aneurysm.
Alternative Names
Aneurysm - cerebral; Cerebral aneurysm
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Aneurysms in the brain occur when there is a weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel. An aneurysm may be present from birth (congenital) or it may develop later in life. (For example, after a blood vessel is injured.)
There are many different types of aneurysms. A berry aneurysm can vary in size from a few millimeters to over a centimeter. Giant berry aneurysms can reach well over 2 centimeters. These are more common in adults. Multiple berry aneurysms are inherited more often than other types of aneurysms.
Other types of cerebral aneurysm involve widening of an entire blood vessel, or they may appear as a "ballooning out" of part of a blood vessel. Such aneurysms can occur in any blood vessel that supplies the brain. Trauma and infection, which can injure the blood vessel wall, can cause such aneurysms.
About 5% of the population has some type of aneurysm in the brain. Risk factors include a family history of cerebral aneurysms, and certain medical problems such as polycystic kidney disease and coarctation of the aorta.
Migraine (4 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A migraine is a common type of headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head.Some people who get migraines have warning symptoms, call...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/27/2008
Tension headache (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A tension headache is a condition involving pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck, usually associated with muscle tightness in these areas.Muscle contraction headache; Headache- benign; Headache- tension.Tension headaches are one of the m...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/19/2008
Cluster headache (4 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A cluster headache is one-sided head pain that may involve tearing of the eyes and a stuffy nose. The headaches occur repeatedly every day at the same time for several weeks and then go away.Histamine headache; Headache- histamine; Migrainous neur...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/19/2008
Benign positional vertigo
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Benign positional vertigo is condition in which a person develops a sudden sensation of spinning, usually when moving the head. It is the most common cause of vertigo.Benign positional vertigo is due to a disturbance within the inner ear. Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 09/27/2008
Stroke (11 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. A stroke is sometimes called a"brain attack.".Cerebrovascular disease; CVA; Cerebral infarction; Cerebral hemorrhage; Ischemic stroke; Stroke- ischemic.Approximately every 4...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 09/16/2008
Alzheimer's disease (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Alzheimer''s disease(AD), one form of dementia, is a progressive, degenerative brain disease. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.Memory impairment is a necessary feature for the diagnosis of this or any type of dementia. Reviewer: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy & Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/13/2008
Epilepsy (4 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Epilepsy is a brain disorder involving repeated, spontaneous seizures of any type. Seizures("fits," convulsions) are episodes of disturbed brain function that cause changes in attention or behavior. Reviewer: Reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Previously reviewed by Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. (6/19/08) Date: 03/29/2009
Seizures(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A seizure is the physical findings or changes in behavior that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.Secondary seizures; Reactive seizures; Seizure- secondary; Seizure- reactive.There are a wide variety of possible sy...Reviewer: Reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Previously reviewed by Daniel B. Hoch, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. (5/29/2008) Date: 03/29/2009
Multiple sclerosis (5 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord( central nervous system).Multiple sclerosis(MS) affects woman more than men. The disorder most commonly begins between ages 20 and 40, but can be seen at any age.MS...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/21/2009
Parkinson's disease (2 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Parkinson''s disease is a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking(tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination.Parkinson''s disease was first described in England in 1817 by Dr. James Parkinson. Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/21/2009
Cerebral palsy (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders involving movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking that occur due to problems with brain development.Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Most of these problems occur a...Reviewer: Jennifer K. Mannheim, CRNP, private practice in Autism Treatment and Research, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/21/2008
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD) is a form of brain damage that causes a rapid decrease of mental function and movement.Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; vCJD; CJD; Jacob-Creutzfeldt disease.CJD is believed to result from a protein called a p...Reviewer: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/06/2007
Brain tumor - children (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A primary brain tumor is a group(mass) of abnormal cells that start in the brain. This article focuses on primary brain tumors in children.Glioblastoma multiforme- children; Ependymoma- children; Glioma- children; Astrocytoma- children; Medullobla...Reviewer: James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/10/2008
Meningitis (6 images)
Average Rating:
(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Meningitis is swelling and irritation(inflammation) of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation causes changes in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.The most common causes of meningitis...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/28/2008
Encephalitis(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Encephalitis is irritation and swelling(inflammation) of the brain, usually due to infections.Encephalitis is most often caused by a viral infection. Many types of viruses may cause it. Reviewer: Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/28/2008
West Nile virus (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitos. The condition ranges from mild to severe.West Nile virus was first identified in 1937 in Uganda in eastern Africa. Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/28/2008
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement.Lou Gehrig''s disease; ALS; Upper and lower motor neuron disease; Motor neuron disease.In about 10% of cases,...Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/11/2008
Spinal muscular atrophy (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Spinal muscular atrophy is a group of inherited diseases that cause progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, eventually leading to death.Spinal muscular atrophy(SMA) is a collection of different muscle diseases. Grouped together, it is the se...Reviewer: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 12/17/2008
Spinal cord trauma (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.Spinal cord trauma can be caused by any number of injuries to the spine. Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Nuerology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/19/2008
Peripheral neuropathy (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Peripheral neuropathy is a problem with the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord. This can produce pain, loss of sensation, and an inability to control muscles.Peripheral neuritis; Neuropathy- peripheral; Neuritis- p...Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/11/2008
Guillain-Barre syndrome (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a serious disorder that occurs when the body''s defense(immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the nervous system. This leads to nerve inflammation that causes muscle weakness, which continues to get worse.La...Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Maternal & Child Health Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/04/2008
Spinal cord trauma (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.Spinal cord trauma can be caused by any number of injuries to the spine. Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Nuerology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/19/2008
Print
