Aneurysms

Aetiology:

- Acquired (normally caused by atherosclerosis)

- Traumatic e.g. popliteal aneurysms in horse-riders

- Inflammatory

- Infective e.g. Syphilis

- Congenital connective tissue disorders e.g. Marfan’s and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes

- True vs false (pseudoaneurysm = false aneurysm. This is a haematoma outside the vessel wall formed by a leaking hole)

 

Site:

- Thoracic aorta

- Abdominal aorta

- Intracranial

 

Size:

- Giant vs berry aneurysms

 

Shape:

- Fusiform vs saccular