Question

Which of the following is most likely to be seen due to the rupture of a saccular aneurysm?

• A. Subdural hemorrhage
• B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• C. Intracerebral hemorrhage
• D. Hydrocephalus

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

In the context of vascular neurology, an understanding of where saccular aneurysms typically occur and the resulting pathology when they rupture is crucial. Saccular aneurysms, also known as berry aneurysms, frequently occur at the bifurcations of intracranial arteries in the circle of Willis. When these aneurysms rupture, they primarily lead to bleeding around the brain but not into the brain tissue itself.

The rupture of a saccular aneurysm commonly results in:

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH): This occurs because the bleeding from the rupture is into the subarachnoid space, which is the area between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater surrounding the brain. Patients experience a sudden onset of a severe headache, often described as a "thunderclap headache," and may have other symptoms such as loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, and neurological deficits.

Other options listed are less commonly associated with the rupture of a saccular aneurysm:

• Subdural hemorrhage: More typically associated with trauma, especially venous bleeding below the dura mater.
• Intracerebral hemorrhage: Can occur but is less common in the context of a saccular aneurysm rupture; these occur within the brain tissue itself.
• Hydrocephalus: This might develop as a complication of a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid pathways but is not directly due to the initial rupture.

The correct answer, therefore, is Subarachnoid hemorrhage, as it specifically aligns with the common outcome of a saccular aneurysm rupture in the subarachnoid space.