What is an aneurysm?

An aneurysm is the dilation - thinning and ballooning or bulging out - in part of the wall of a vein, artery, or the heart. An aneurysm may be small and not cause any symptoms.

What causes an aneurysm to form?

An aneurysm may be caused or aggravated by disease (such as atherosclerosis or hypertension), injury, or an abnormality present at birth.

How are aneurysms diagnosed?

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for an aneurysm may include any, or a combination of, the following:


  • echocardiogram (also known as echo) - a procedure that evaluates the structure and function of the heart by using sound waves recorded on an electronic sensor that produce a moving picture of the heart and heart valves.

What dangers do aneurysms present?

The danger from an aneurysm is that it will continue to bulge and may burst. When an aneurysm in a large blood vessel or in the heart bursts, a person could bleed to death. When an aneurysm bursts in the brain, a stroke (brain attack) can result.