Cerebral aneurysm presenting with aseptic meningitis: a case report

INTRODUCTION This case highlights the potential importance of new-onset headache, even in the absence of other worrisome features, in a patient with a cerebral aneurysm. CASE PRESENTATION A 61-year-old Caucasian woman presented with nonspecific insidious onset of headache, a superior cerebellar artery aneurysm and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis. She had a subarachnoid hemorrhage 21 days later, at which time the aneurysm had enlarged. The aneurysm was repaired endovascularly and the patient recovered with a modified Rankin score of 1. CONCLUSIONS This case suggests that new onset of chronic headache in a patient with an unruptured aneurysm may be due to aneurysm growth and can be associated with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis. Headaches are common and may occur incidentally in patients with cerebral aneurysms, but new-onset headache, even if mild, should prompt consideration for timely aneurysm repair.