Aneurysm arising from the cortical segment of the superior cerebellar artery: a case report and review of the literatures

Background: Aneurysms arising from the distal portion of the SCA are relatively rare. A case is presented of an aneurysm arising from the cortical segment of the SCA. Case Description: A 45-year-old woman was admitted to our institution because of severe headache. Radiological examination revealed SAH caused by rupture of the aneurysm located in the cortical segment of the SCA and was treated successfully with coil embolization. Conclusions: This type of aneurysms may be difficult to treat surgically because of its inaccessibility and of the common difficulty in preserving the involved parent artery. In view of the previously reported cases, these peripheral aneurysms of the SCA often have undefinable necks, as is shown in our case, which makes a reconstructive endovascular and/or surgical technique more or less difficult. However, the overall outcome is almost always favorable, even if surgical treatment results in proximal parent artery occlusion or trapping with surgical clips. These results imply that an equivalent endovascular approach to these rare lesions can be an effective alternative method of management. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.