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A 49-year-old woman underwent a diagnostic workup for recurrent headaches. Computed tomography suggested the presence of an incidental aneurysm of the left internal carotid artery. This finding was confirmed by cerebral angiography, which demonstrated an unusual, heart-shaped saccular aneurysm originating from the ventral aspect of the ophthalmic segment of the left carotid artery. The aneurysm was successfully clipped without complications.
Intracranial, or berry, aneurysms are thought to result from vessel-wall degeneration in the presence of severe hemodynamic stress. Typically, they have a saccular and often irregular form and appearance on angiographic studies.
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