A 43 year-old man developed the lightening onset of an explosive headache followed by nausea and vomiting.

(Left) Axial CT scan without contrast; (Right) Cerebral angiogram, Left ICA injection, AP view. Note the prominent subarachnoid hemorrhage. The source of the bleeding was an aneurysm near the origin of the anterior cerebral artery. This aneurysm is arising from the anterior communicating artery. Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage is most often caused by a ruptured aneurysm.  They usually present with sudden headache, nausea, and vomiting, often associated with signs of increased intracranial pressure. The anterior communicating artery is a common location for aneurysms.

Last Update:  11/8/05
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