Management of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in patients with coexistent unruptured intracranial aneurysms

Abstract

Intracranial aneurysms are found incidentally in approximately 2% to 5% of patients undergoing cerebral imaging for extracranial carotid artery disease. These are generally located in the middle or anterior cerebral and communicating arteries. Most are asymptomatic, and when a patient presents with symptoms, it is most often with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms have an overall 5-year risk of hemorrhage of 10% to 20%, which may result in major neurological morbidity and mortality.