home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK01891}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Berry Aneurysm: The (Sometimes) Quiet Time Bomb}
- $Subject{Berry Aneurysm test tests sac saclike form forms formation formations
- artery arteries wall inherit inherited congenital brain die died dead death
- treat treatment treatments surgery exam examine examination examinations
- symptom symptoms headache nausea neck angiography computer tomography CT Scan
- MRI magnetic resonance imaging berry-aneurysm berry-aneurysms aneurysms
- emergency emergencies}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- Cerebral Artery Aneurysm*0002504.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Berry Aneurysm: The (Sometimes) Quiet Time Bomb
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: The young son of a close friend died suddenly and unexpectedly. He
- was in his prime, never a sick day in his life, tall, athletic and good
- looking. The doctors said it was an aneurysm, and that nothing could have
- been done to save him. Is that true? Surely doctors have tests to find these
- things. Why weren't they used in his case? We are all destroyed by this loss
- and looking for answers. Please help.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: It is not difficult to understand the depth of your grief, and your
- need for some answers to explain what happened, though they can't change what
- has happened. The most probable cause of this tragedy is called a "berry
- aneurysm", a small saclike formation that develops when the wall of an artery
- is weak. It looks like a berry, and the walls of the sac are very thin.
- Often it is congenital and is located in an artery at the base of the brain.
- They are frequently described as time bombs, for they can burst at any time.
- In about half the cases, death occurs immediately, with no time for emergency
- surgery that is the only treatment. When there are no symptoms to warn of
- their presence, no special examinations are indicated. However, when symptoms
- of headache, nausea or even a stiff neck heighten the suspicions of the
- physician, tests, including angiography, computer tomography (CT Scan) or MRI
- (magnetic resonance imaging) can be used to locate the lesion, in time for
- the care that prevents the calamity you have suffered.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-