The thought of having a brain aneurysm could already scare the average person. However, getting it misdiagnosed could be worse. Unfortunately, doctors could misdiagnose brain aneurysms for several reasons. Doing so could lead to severe physical harm or death.
Aneurysms happen when an artery in the brain develops a weak spot that bulges, which could rupture and cause a hemorrhage. Unfortunately, their usual symptoms are common in less severe conditions, including headaches, stiffness, pain behind the eyes and nausea.
Sometimes, not all symptoms appear in a patient, making diagnosis more challenging. Doctors might mistake brain aneurysms for other low-risk health issues, such as migraines, flu, ear infections or side effects of consuming certain substances. These errors are prevalent during the initial physical examination. Doctors might only confirm that it is an aneurysm after the patient undergoes more specific diagnostic procedures.
Are aneurysms treatable?
Cases of brain aneurysms are usually severe but treatable if detected early. After diagnosis, doctors could find ways to prevent them from bleeding or re-bleeding, depending on the circumstances. These treatments could include surgery, endovascular therapy, or waiting it out while managing risk factors to help it resolve without other interventions.
Misdiagnosing an aneurysm could be risky
Aneurysm misdiagnosis usually happens when patients do not receive the correct scan needed for detection. An MRA scan might not be enough to pinpoint the aneurysm, even if the doctor orders it. They typically require an MRI, CTA or CT scan to help establish an accurate diagnosis.
Patients could also take the initiative and ask for these diagnostics if their treatments are not improving their condition. However, it could be more complicated if the misdiagnosis happened due to the negligence or recklessness of the health care provider. This situation might have severe consequences, necessitating a medical malpractice claim.
