Aneurysm

Disease class: Vascular diseases  

Types

• aneurysm, Dissecting
• aneurysm, False 
• aneurysm, Infected 
• aneurysm, Ruptured
• Aortic aneurysm
• Coronary aneurysm
• Endoleak
• Heart aneurysm
• Iliac aneurysm
• Intracranial aneurysm
• Microaneurysm

A localised swelling or dilatation of an artery due to weakening of its wall.

The most common sites are the aorta, the arteries of the legs, the carotids and the subclavian arteries.

The aorta is the largest artery in the body and an aneurysm may develop anywhere in it. A dissecting aneurysm usually occurs in the first part of the aorta: it is the result of degeneration in the vessel’s muscular coat leading to a tear in the lining; blood then enters the wall and tracks along (dissects) the muscular coat. The aneurysm may rupture or compress the blood vessels originating from the aorta: the outcome is an infarction in the organs supplied by the affected vessel(s).

Aneurysms may also form in the arteries at the base of the brain, usually due to an inherited defect of the arterial wall.