Spontaneous thrombolysis of an unruptured intracranial aneurysm with spontaneous thrombosis

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous thrombolysis of unruptured intracranial aneurysm with spontaneous thrombosis is rare and its significance remains unclear. To date, there are no published reports of spontaneous thrombolysis prior to growth of unruptured intracranial aneurysm with spontaneous thrombosis. Methods: We described a 65-year-old man with a chief complaint of mild weakness and numbness in the left limbs. He had a smoking history of 20 years. Then he was diagnosed having unruptured intracranial aneurysm with spontaneous thrombosis. His cerebrovascular digital subtraction angiography conducted 30 days after his first onset revealed spontaneous thrombolysis of the unruptured intracranial aneurysm. And his following brain computed tomography scan conducted 36 days after his first onset revealed growth of the unruptured intracranial aneurysm. Results: The diagnosis of unruptured right fetal-type posterior cerebral artery aneurysm with spontaneous complete thrombosis was established based on the preliminary physical examination and the imaging findings. The patient underwent embolization of the aneurysm and parent artery. We followed up with the patient for 12 months after his embolization of the aneurysm and parent artery. He experienced neither aneurysm recurrence nor cerebral infarction during this period, but his were not alleviated. Conclusion: Spontaneous thrombolysis after spontaneous thrombosis of unruptured intracranial aneurysm is an urgent indication for isolation of the aneurysm, as it may foreshadow the growth of unruptured intracranial aneurysm.