Several kinds of tests may be used: angiogram (X-rays of the inside of blood vessels), CT scan , MRI scan , spinal tap (to check for blood in the cerebrospinal fluid, which can be caused by a ruptured aneurysm in the brain), ultrasound scan , and X-rays.

A small aneurysm may be monitored over time to see if it gets bigger. Your doctor may prescribe high blood pressure medicine to reduce the pressure of blood against the arterial walls. If the aneurysm continues to grow, or begins to cause symptoms, your doctor may want you to have surgery.

The risk of rupture increases with the size of the aneurysm. An aneurysm in the aorta can grow to the size of an orange before it ruptures. The risk of dying from an aortic aneurysm after it ruptures is about 90%. Rupture of an aneurysm is a medical emergency.

Larger aneurysms are usually treated with surgery. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of surgery with your doctor.