Symptoms of cervical aneurysm

Cervical artery aneurysms are also quite common in daily life. Aneurysms are divided into true aneurysms and false aneurysms. There are many causes. The most common ones are arteriosclerosis or trauma. Common carotid artery aneurysms have a great impact on the patient's health. When they are more serious, they often lead to poor blood circulation, insufficient blood supply to the brain, dizziness and other phenomena, and can also cause symptoms of lumps.

Symptoms of cervical aneurysm

1. Bleeding:

In a few cases, aneurysm rupture and bleeding are the initial symptoms. Sudden rupture of a thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm causes massive bleeding and is often fatal. If a thoracic aortic aneurysm ruptures into the trachea, it can cause massive hemoptysis and suffocation; if it ruptures into the esophagus, massive hematemesis may occur. If an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptures into the duodenum, upper gastrointestinal bleeding may occur. Bleeding from a carotid artery aneurysm can often cause symptoms of cerebral ischemia. Bleeding from aneurysms in the limbs can cause acute swelling of the limbs and distal ischemia.

2. Insufficient blood supply to the distal arteries of the affected limb

If the tumor is large and compresses nearby nerves and veins, limb pain, numbness, varicose veins, and swelling may occur. Carotid artery aneurysm can cause insufficient blood supply to the brain and compress adjacent tissues, causing hoarseness, choking, difficulty breathing, and Horner's syndrome.

3. Lumps:

A pulsating mass is the most common symptom of an aneurysm. The lump may be round or fusiform.

4. Pain:

Generally, only mild local distension and pain is felt, but when the aneurysm gradually increases in size and compresses surrounding nerves or erodes bones, it may cause local pain or radiating pain. If the aneurysm is accompanied by infection, the pain will be aggravated. If a dissecting hematoma forms inside the aneurysm wall or the aneurysm tends to rupture, the pain will suddenly intensify and become tearing-like.

5. Circulatory disorders:

The mural thrombus in the aneurysm cavity can cause the lumen to narrow and reduce blood flow in the distal segment; the detachment of thrombus or atherosclerotic plaque on the inner wall of the aneurysm can cause arterial embolism or secondary thrombosis, resulting in circulatory disorders in the distal tissues. For example, cerebral ischemia may cause temporary fainting, tinnitus, visual impairment, and even coma and hemiplegia; visceral ischemia may cause abdominal pain and bloody stools; lower limb ischemia may cause numbness and coldness of the extremities, intermittent claudication or rest pain in the limbs, etc.

6. Local compression symptoms:

As an aneurysm grows larger, it may compress nearby tissues and organs. For example, a subclavian artery aneurysm can compress the brachial plexus and cause numbness, weakness, paresthesia, or mild paresis of the upper limbs. Aneurysms at the root of the common carotid artery may compress the cervical sympathetic ganglia and cause Horner's sign. Thoracic aortic aneurysm can compress the esophagus, trachea, etc., causing difficulty in swallowing and respiratory distress. Abdominal aortic aneurysm can sometimes compress the common bile duct and cause jaundice.