A brain aneurysm can be detected using a special kind of X-ray called an angiogram or arteriogram. To highlight the aneurysm, a dye is injected into the bloodstream. The blood in the vessels shows up on the film as white columns.
If a blood vessel is swollen due to an aneurysm, the dye in the blood will pass into it and the X-ray will show the swelling.
If surgery is being planned you may be referred for further testing so that the surgeon can obtain more information on the precise location of the aneurysm.
These tests may include:
Screening
There's no routine screening programme for a brain aneurysms and it's unlikely that one will be introduced in the future.
This is because researchers have calculated that routine screening would do little in preventing deaths but would place a significant drain on NHS resources.
Screening is only recommended for people who are thought to have a significant risk of having a brain aneurysm that could rupture at some point in the future.
This would usually only apply to you if you had two or more first-degree relatives (father, mother, sister or brother) who had experienced a subarachnoid haemorrhage (bleeding inside the brain due to a ruptured aneurysm).
If this applies to you then you should contact your GP. They will be able to refer you to a specialist clinic for further assessment.
Be aware that discovering you have an aneurysm that's unsuitable for surgical treatment can cause worry and distress, even though the risk of it rupturing is small. Some people have reported that they regretted getting screened. There are no right or wrong answers but it's important that you discuss the potential implications of screening with the staff of the clinic.
Screening may also be recommended if you have the genetic condition autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
