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Internal carotid artery aneurysm
I am posting to hear from others with internal carotid artery aneurysm and what treatment, if any the doctors recommended.
I was having a CT scan for another reason and an aneurysm was discovered. Immediately had consults with neurology and neurosurgery and it was decided that it did not need immediate attention except taking a baby aspirin daily. It showed calcification that meant it had been there for a while. I have not had a stroke or other symptoms. I am 62 with no heart problems.
But when you here aneurysm, you fear the worst.
An angiogram was done few weeks later and results were:
Right common carotid artery cervical angiogram demonstrates an aneurysm of the right internal carotid artery upper cervical segment which measures 33 x 25 x 29 mm.
The surgeon said these types of aneurysm rarely burst and should follow up with another test after 6 months to see if there are any changes.
If you have had similar diagnosis, what advice are your drs giving you?
My doctors are at Mayo Rochester, so confident that diagnosis is correct.
Laurie
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Hi @gavriel - wondering how you are doing and how your health has been lately?
@roch A neurosurgeon told her that she can do clipping/coiling but they don’t guarantee anything.
It was found incidentally, because 2 weeks she suddenly started to see poorly and her blood pressure was 150. Initially eye doctors thought that she might have a glaucoma. And she did an MRI and then angiogram. And the angiogram showed
that she has a 3.4 x 2.1 x 3.7 mm internal carotid aneurysm.
@aigul29
It is a very scary diagnosis. I remember being told about it in the ER when found incidentally during a scan done for another reason. I was shocked I was sent home, but I was at no risk. After 7 years, my aneurysm is still there, and I am doing fine. I did just have a recheck with the neurosurgeon this year (2026), and no intervention is planned. In my situation, it is calcified and with VERY minimum chance of rupture. It does continue to slowly grow.
Everyone's situation is different, and the risks and benefits of surgery have to be considered.
After being first diagnosed, the providers scanned and monitored every year, then less often. No planned recheck needed now. But every so often, I have a head scan for another reason, and the size of anyurm is noted.
I did have a side effect from the aneurysm in the last few years. My hearing on the right side was being affected because an aneurysm was pushing on the eustachian tube, preventing drainage and causing fluid backup. ENT and neurosurgery agreed it was better to treat the symptom then cuase. I had ear tubes placed and took care of the problem.
What are the providers telling your mother? Was it found incidentally, or were they trying to diagnose a problem?
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1 Reaction@GratefulEveryDay Hi, how are you doing? How’s your aneurysm? My mom was diagnosed with an internal carotid aneurysm. So just looking online for various information.
Thank you
@roch Hello, my mom was diagnosed with an internal carotid aneurysm last week. After finding your topic from 2018 decided to ask you how’s your aneurysm? Have you done a surgery?
Thank you
@lizang - just wanted to check in and see how you are doing. How are things going with the ICA aneurysm you talked about?
@jjohngoj
I understand your concern. I still remember the shock when they found ICA and then told me to go home from the ER, and they would follow up. Since it is a calcified aneurysm, they told me it would be very rare for it to rupture.
For about 5 years, the neurosurgery department at Mayo monitored with occasional contrast-enhanced MRIs. Each time, it showed a slight increase. Last MRI in 2023 it was 3.5 x 3 x 3.8 cm. It really scared me when one radiology report called it a giant aneurysm. After research, it is just how radiology classifies anyrusm based on size. Meet with the neurosurgeon again; he was not concerned. As long as it was calcified, he did not feel any intervention was needed.
And then I started having problems with fluid in my ear and loss of hearing on the right side. ENT performed a nasal endoscopy (a tube inserted through the nose to check the nasal passage), which confirmed that the aneurysm was compressing the eustachian tube. The treatment plan is to address the symptoms (fluid in the ear) rather than the cause ( aneurysm). ENT did order some CT scans and radiology again reported a slight increase in size. Ended up having ear tubes to relieve pressure and drain fluid.
I did send a message to Nero-surgeon to ask whether the slight increase in size shown in the CT scan changes anything in the treatment plan. I have not heard back.
As you can tell from my story, the neurosurgeon does not feel any intervention is needed. He once said if it were pushing on the airway, then we would need to do something.
I still have some anxiety about it, but I trust the providers.
What are your provider's recommendations? Have they mentioned whether it is calcified?
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2 Reactions@roch
Six years later, any updates. I have an incidental 2mm carotid aneurysm on Cta scan. Quite anxious
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1 ReactionHi, @GratefulEveryDay - thanks for sharing some of your story with your diagnosis of a brain aneurysm.
You mentioned wanting to have questions prepared also for your next appt. Though this is a doctor you've already seen, this discussion, "Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist," https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/your-tips-on-how-to-get-off-to-the-best-start-with-a-new-specialist may have some useful information and ideas for that visit.
You also talked about how you understand the "constant thought of aneurysm" is fearful. How have you dealt with that type of fear, @GratefulEveryDay?
I also was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm - "originating from the left internal carotid artery just distal to the left ophthalmic origin. The aneurysm projects superiorly and slightly medially. The overall length of the aneurysm is approximately 5 mm, and the maximum transverse dimension is also on the order of 5 mm largely because of the curvilinear shape. The neck is on the order of 2.5 mm...also a "vascular infundibulum" and "Dolichoectasia is noted involving the anterior and posterior circulations."
The dr. was running 2hrs behind, which was unusual for Mayo, (he had an emergency surgery). The appt was very brief, we didn't even review the CT pics, but another CT scan scheduled in 3mths. (I have 4-5 other aneurysms and tortuous artery areas, Connective Tissue Disease which causes the middle wall of arteries to relax, loose the collagen, elasticity and hopefully not burst.. Mom died of aortic aneurysm at 66, I'm 62, which I also have that is being monitored, all of this discovered in the last 4 months.) I was NOT told to take an aspirin a day; the only instruction was to not lift over 20lbs and no more running. (Have read not to fly, not sure if it is safe, or yoga or hiking for that matter...) I have always had headaches but now a monthly injection, Emgality, has helped the migraines. Nice to meet this group, sorry it had to be under these circumstances! I understand how the "constant thought of aneurysm" is fearful. I'd like to have the questions prepared also for my next appt. Thank you so much for your comments. Enjoy your weekend!!!