Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm MCAA

Posted by tkeys @tkeys, Jan 14, 2023

1 week after changing providers they found a report from 2017 of a very small MCAA. Which I was never informed of. It must have shown up when I had my first ever epileptic seizure. I am now 66 and last year a thoracic and abdominal aneurysm were found. Both at 4 cm now. My question is how fast does a MCA A grow and is a mri or cat scan used to follow the growth. My new providers I referred are at a well respected university hospital were for cardiology and vascular seem to be very relaxed about this new development but have referred me to neurology. I am stroke just waiting to happen and just want to know the size. It could be 4 weeks before I see a neurologist. Please give me your experience and thoughts.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 15, 2023

Hi @tkeys, I'm tagging @badnaples @smilton and @hyeary into this discussion who may have some tips and experiences to share with you. You may also be interested in this related discussion:
- Unruptured Brain Aneurysm https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/unruptured-brain-aneurysm/

I'm sure it is disconcerting to have made this discovery in your medical records. I'm glad you are being referred to a neurologist to get your questions answered and a plan. Mayo Clinic offers a lot of information about brain aneurysms here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20361483

It also includes a list of questions to ask your neurologist like:
- What do you know about the size, location and overall appearance of the aneurysm?
- Do the imaging test results provide evidence of how likely it is to rupture?
- What treatment do you recommend at this time? What are the risks of treatment?
- If I wait, how often will I need to have follow-up tests?
- What steps can I take to lower the risk of an aneurysm rupturing?

I also like your question about "how fast does it grow?"

You might appreciate this video from one of my fav neuro surgeons at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Bendok.
https://youtu.be/b8eUfwin9PI

Do you continue to have seizures or did it happen only once?

tkeys | @tkeys | Jan 15, 2023

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @tkeys, I'm tagging @badnaples @smilton and @hyeary into this discussion who may have some tips..." + (show)

I had the gran mal in 2017 and then a year ago I had an aware and awake seizure. I didn’t go on medication after the first one but decided it would be best to start on the second seeing as the first was not an isolated incident.

tainan | @tainan | Feb 14, 2023

I was diagnosed 4mm left paraophthalmic aneurysm last July, there is no medical treatment . I'm a medical professional started treatments myself. I found Aquatic excercise, walking , low salt diet and medication for high
blood pressure are very helpfull treatments. My symptoms have greatly improved. I hope this imformations can be any helpful to you.

tainan | @tainan | Jun 22, 2023

Update: 6/22/2023
On 6/16/2023, I had my annual MRA of HEAD done and the results are encouraged.
Stable 0.4cm left paraophthalmic aneurysm.
The intracranial ICAs and vertebral arteries are otherwise patent and unremarkable.
Tainan

tkeys | @tkeys | Jun 6 6:35pm

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @tkeys, I'm tagging @badnaples @smilton and @hyeary into this discussion who may have some tips..." + (show)

My seizures weren’t attributed to the MCA. The seizures were attributed to a piece of brain damaged from Viral Encyphalitis in 1996. I had the first seizure in 2017 and a second in 2021. The second one wasn’t as severe as the first.