Recurrent artery of Heubner aneurysms in focus: insights into occurrence and current treatment paradigms

Introduction: The recurrent artery of Heubner (RAH), also known as the medial striate artery, is the most clinically important perforator of the anterior cerebral artery. RAH aneurysm is relatively rare, with 11 cases found in the present literature review, but poses significant clinical challenges due to potential impact on cognitive and motor functions. This systematic review explored available case reports to comprehensively understand clinical presentation, diagnosis, management and outcome in RAH aneurysm. Materials and methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review extensively explored RAH aneurysms, covering demographics, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and outcomes. Comprehensive searches on PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Science Direct employed keywords such as "recurrent artery of Heubner aneurysm" and "Heubner's artery." Results: After extensive screening, 9 qualifying studies were identified, with 11 patients diagnosed with rare RAH aneurysm. Median age was 55 years (standard deviation, 15.3 years), with 54.5% males. 45.5% of patients presented risk factors, including Moyamoya disease in 2 patients. The majority were classified as grade I/II on the Hunt and Hess (H&H) and World Federation of Neurological Societies (WFNS) systems. Aneurysms were predominantly located in the A1 segment, with a mean size of 4.7 mm. Treatments varied, with clipping being the most frequent (63.6%). The mortality rate was 18.2%. Clipping was associated with favorable outcomes but higher rates of infarction. Conclusion: This analysis highlighted the various symptoms, therapy methods and outcomes of RAH aneurysm, with A1 being the predominant origin. Future research should explore potential genetic predisposition factors and novel therapeutic interventions to address gaps in our knowledge.