Vascular Disorders

A brain aneurysm is a balloon-like outpouching that forms because of a weakness in the wall of a brain blood vessel. Most aneurysms cause no symptoms; if one ruptures, it can lead to a life-threatening subarachnoid hemorrhage.

A cavernoma is a vascular malformation of the brain or spinal cord made up of thin-walled, dilated vascular spaces. It is usually benign but can cause symptoms such as bleeding or seizures.

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a congenital vascular anomaly in which brain arteries connect directly to veins without an intervening capillary network. Its most important risk is intracranial hemorrhage; the decision to treat is individualized by balancing rupture risk against procedural risk.

A chronic subdural hematoma is an old blood collection that accumulates slowly over weeks to months between the dura and arachnoid membranes covering the brain. It is most common in older adults and people on blood thinners; most cases are successfully treated with burr-hole drainage.

Carotid artery disease is a narrowing of the main neck arteries (carotid arteries) caused by atherosclerotic plaque. It reduces blood flow to the brain and raises the risk of ischemic stroke; it is often silent, and fragments breaking off the plaque can block downstream vessels.

Moyamoya disease is a rare cerebrovascular disorder marked by progressive narrowing of the main brain arteries and a compensatory network of fine, tortuous collateral vessels. It tends to cause ischemic events in children and hemorrhagic events in adults.

A dural arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal direct connection between arteries in the brain's covering (dura) and venous sinuses or cortical veins. Its risk depends on the direction of venous drainage; types with reflux into cortical veins carry a higher hemorrhage risk.

Ischemic stroke is an acute neurological emergency caused by blockage of a brain-supplying artery by a clot or atherosclerotic plaque, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and causing cell death. It accounts for about 85% of all strokes; time to treatment is critical.

Hemorrhagic stroke is a sudden, life-threatening neurological emergency caused by spontaneous bleeding into the brain tissue (intracerebral hemorrhage). It accounts for about 10-20% of all strokes; the most common cause is uncontrolled high blood pressure.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a stroke-like episode caused by a brief reduction in brain blood flow, usually lasting under an hour and resolving completely without permanent damage. Although it leaves no permanent infarct, it warns of a high risk of stroke and requires urgent evaluation.

Cervicocerebral artery dissection is a condition in which blood seeps between the wall layers of the neck and brain arteries (carotid or vertebral artery), causing narrowing or occlusion of the vessel. It is an important cause of stroke in young and middle-aged adults.