脑动脉瘤起源于构成 Willis 环的大动脉分叉处。大多数位于前交通动脉/大脑前动脉 (anterior communicating/anterior cerebral artery, Acom/ACA) 交界处、远端颈内动脉/后交通动脉 (internal carotid artery/posterior communicating artery junction, ICA/Pcom) 交界处以及大脑中动脉分叉处 (middle cerebral artery bifurcation, MCA)。不到 10% 起源于椎动脉或基底动脉。高达 19% 的患者有多发性动脉瘤。[8]Kassell NF, Torner JC, Haley EC Jr, et al. The International Cooperative Study on the Timing of Aneurysm Surgery. Part 1: overall management results. J Neurosurg. 1990 Jul;73(1):18-36.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2191090?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Kassell NF, Torner JC, Jane JA, et al. The International Cooperative Study on the Timing of Aneurysm Surgery. Part 2: surgical results. J Neurosurg. 1990 Jul;73(1):37-47.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2191091?tool=bestpractice.com 已有相关解释指出动脉瘤易生长于这些位置,包括为动脉分叉顶部压力较高、搏动性的血流方式以及湍流。[14]Wiebers DO, Piepgras DG, Meyer FB, et al. Pathogenesis, natural history, and treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Mayo Clin Proc. 2004 Dec;79(12):1572-83.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15595346?tool=bestpractice.com[19]Can A, Du R. Association of hemodynamic factors with intracranial aneurysm formation and rupture: systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosurgery. 2016 Apr;78(4):510-20.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26516819?tool=bestpractice.com
动脉瘤破裂的风险取决于其大小、位置、有无症状、有无多发性动脉瘤以及是否曾有动脉瘤破裂。[14]Wiebers DO, Piepgras DG, Meyer FB, et al. Pathogenesis, natural history, and treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Mayo Clin Proc. 2004 Dec;79(12):1572-83.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15595346?tool=bestpractice.com[20]Connolly ES, Solomon RA. Management of unruptured aneurysms. In: Le Roux PD, Winn HR, Newell DW, eds. Management of cerebral aneurysms. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2004:271-85.[21]International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms Investigators. Unruptured intracranial aneurysms - risk of rupture and risks of surgical intervention. N Engl J Med. 1998 Dec 10;339(24):1725-33. [Erratum in: N Engl J Med. 1999 Mar 4;340(9):744.]https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199812103392401http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9867550?tool=bestpractice.com[22]Bederson JB, Awad IA, Wiebers DO, et al. Recommendations for the management of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. A statement for healthcare professionals from the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2000 Oct 31;102(18):2300-8.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.cir.102.18.2300http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11056108?tool=bestpractice.com[23]Juvela S, Porras M, Poussa K. Natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: probability of and risk factors for aneurysm rupture. J Neurosurg. 2000 Sep;93(3):379-87.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10969934?tool=bestpractice.com[24]Tsutsumi K, Ueki K, Morita A, et al. Risk of rupture from incidental cerebral aneurysms. J Neurosurg. 2000 Oct;93(4):550-3.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11014531?tool=bestpractice.com[25]Wiebers DO, Whisnant JP, O'Fallon WM. The natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. N Engl J Med. 1981 Mar 19;304(12):696-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7464862?tool=bestpractice.com 与患者相关的动脉瘤破裂预测因素为年龄和吸烟。小的 (<7 mm) 、无症状的动脉瘤破裂风险小于那些较大且对周围结构产生占位效应的动脉瘤。位于基底动脉顶部、椎基底动脉、大脑后动脉或 Willis 环后部的动脉瘤比其他部位的动脉瘤更易破裂。[21]International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms Investigators. Unruptured intracranial aneurysms - risk of rupture and risks of surgical intervention. N Engl J Med. 1998 Dec 10;339(24):1725-33. [Erratum in: N Engl J Med. 1999 Mar 4;340(9):744.]https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199812103392401http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9867550?tool=bestpractice.com[26]Wiebers DO, Whisnant JP, Huston J 3rd, et al. Unruptured intracranial aneurysms: natural history, clinical outcome, and risks of surgical and endovascular treatment. Lancet. 2003 Jul 12;362(9378):103-10.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12867109?tool=bestpractice.com 位于 ICA、Acom 或 MCA 的直径<7 mm 的动脉瘤,5 年累计破裂发生率为 0,而位于 Pcom 或大脑后动脉、椎动脉、或者基底动脉的破裂发生率为 2.5%。[26]Wiebers DO, Whisnant JP, Huston J 3rd, et al. Unruptured intracranial aneurysms: natural history, clinical outcome, and risks of surgical and endovascular treatment. Lancet. 2003 Jul 12;362(9378):103-10.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12867109?tool=bestpractice.com 在对 SAH(由另一个动脉瘤引起)进行病情检查时发现的未破裂动脉瘤的年破裂发生率高于单个未破裂的动脉瘤。[14]Wiebers DO, Piepgras DG, Meyer FB, et al. Pathogenesis, natural history, and treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Mayo Clin Proc. 2004 Dec;79(12):1572-83.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15595346?tool=bestpractice.com[22]Bederson JB, Awad IA, Wiebers DO, et al. Recommendations for the management of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. A statement for healthcare professionals from the Stroke Council of the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2000 Oct 31;102(18):2300-8.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.cir.102.18.2300http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11056108?tool=bestpractice.com[23]Juvela S, Porras M, Poussa K. Natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: probability of and risk factors for aneurysm rupture. J Neurosurg. 2000 Sep;93(3):379-87.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10969934?tool=bestpractice.com 在此种情况下,直径<7 mm 动脉瘤的 5 年累计破裂发生率为 1.5%-3.4%,而直径在 7-24 mm 动脉瘤的 5 年累计破裂发生率为 2.6%-18.4%。