Actively bleeding intracranial aneurysm demonstrated by CT angiography

Abstract 

CT angiography (CTA) is increasingly being utilized in the initial diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage. While active bleeding from an intracranial aneurysm has been demonstrated on conventional angiography, CT angiogram findings of active aneurysmal hemorrhage are not well described. We present a case of an actively bleeding anterior communicating artery aneurysm demonstrated by CT angiography. The initial CTA demonstrated the extravasation of contrast from the anterior communicating artery. A second CT scan less than 1h later confirmed the ongoing hemorrhage, with extension of hemorrhage into the subarachnoid cisterns and the ventricular system. Recognition of active aneurismal hemorrhage by CTA may modify plan of treatment and follow-up imaging.

Keywords: Intracranial aneurysm, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, CT angiography, Rebleeding