Treatment Results of Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysms

Kang, Dong Wan; Sung, Soon Ki; Choi, Byung Kwan; Choi, Chang Hwa

Abstract

Aneurysms arising from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) are uncommon. Surgical treatment of PICA aneurysm was difficult and had relatively poor outcome. This study was undertaken to analyze the surgical and endovascular results of PICA aneurysm with review of the literature. Medical records and neuroimaging studies of nine patients who underwent treatment of PICA aneurysm from March 1995 to December 2003 were reviewed. The mean age of the nine patients was 57.9 (ranged from 41 to 68) and female was predominant (female : male = 7:2). Locations of PICA aneurysms was various and surgical treatments were attempted in 7 cases and endovascular treatment was done in 2 cases. The results of treatment were as follows : 4 patients showed good outcome, 5 patients showed poor outcome. Although clipping of the aneurysm neck is preferable in the aneurysm of PICA, trapping is useful when neck clipping is impossible in distal segment of telovelotonsillar segment. Endovascular treatment is becoming a promising treatment option.