Pediatric intracranial aneurysms in a Southern Brazilian population

Introduction Intracranial aneurysms are rare in the pediatric population, and their diagnosis can be challenging. They differ from their adult counterparts in several aspects, and hemorrhage is the most common presentation. Objective To evaluate clinical data, aneurysm characteristics, and therapeutic results in a series of patients younger than 19 years of age with intracranial aneurysms. Method A retrospective cross-sectional observational study design analyzed medical records and imaging studies. Variables included age, sex, clinical presentation, comorbidities, aneurysmal characteristics, treatment modality, and clinical outcomes. Results We identified 15 intracranial aneurysms in 11 patients (6 male), with ages ranging from 3 months to 15 years (mean age 5.2 years). Five patients had associated medical conditions, and hemorrhage was the most frequent clinical presentation (45%). Three patients (27%) had multiple aneurysms, and seven aneurysms were fusiform or dysplastic. The internal carotid artery was the most affected site, involved in 47% of cases. Aneurysm size ranged from 2 to 60 mm (mean 16.8 mm), with giant aneurysms in 27%. Seven patients were treated with endovascular procedures, while three aneurysms were clipped. Symptomatic vasospasm requiring angioplasty occurred in two patients and led to worse outcomes. One patient died due to severe aspiration pneumonia and sepsis that precluded treatment. Good functional outcome (modified Rankin scale – mRS ≤ 2) was achieved in all treated patients (91%). Conclusion The patients with aneurysms in this series were mostly male, presented mostly hemorrhagic syndromes, and mainly had internal carotid artery involvement. The outcome of treated patients was favorable, regardless of treatment modality.