Iatrogenic intracranial aneurysms in childhood: case-based update.

PURPOSE

Iatrogenic aneurysms are very rare in children. Characteristic clinical manifestations are variable and asymptomatic course is possible especially for fusiform dilatation of internal carotid artery. Even though radiological diagnosis is easy, the management of iatrogenic intracranial aneurysm is still a subject for discussion.

METHODS

Fusiform dilatations of internal carotid artery were diagnosed on three pediatric patients during follow-up imaging after primary surgery for suprasellar-parasellar tumor. All patients were asymptomatic. Conservative treatment was proposed because the lesion did not show any progression in subsequent examinations. Patients are stable under conservative treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Iatrogenic aneurysm may have an unusual presentation and their therapy still remains unclear. Fusiform dilatation of internal carotid artery rarely causes symptoms and there is no published paper of subarachnoid bleeding. Treatment would be difficult, since the main arterial branches arise from the dilated carotid segment. Conservative treatment is a choice only if aneurysm has no progression or in case of spontaneous healing. Intervention should be performed only in case of progression or if the aneurysm becomes symptomatic.