ABSTRACT
Objective@#The goal of the present study was to identify factors related to the growth and growth patterns of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). @*Methods@#Between January 2011 and December 2018, a total of 275 patients were diagnosed with UIAs in our institution. Of them, 91 patients were evaluated using computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, or digital subtraction angiography. Aneurysm size, morphology, location, and its changes were investigated. Patient factors, including gender, history of stroke, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and excessive alcohol consumption, were studied to identify factors associated with aneurysm growth. @*Results@#A total of 91 patients (121 aneurysms) with a mean follow-up duration of 37.2±23.9 months and a mean age of 64.0±11.4 years were included. The growth of unruptured aneurysms was identified in 23 patients (27 aneurysms, 22.3%). Regarding morphology, the diffuse growth pattern was the most common (12 aneurysms in 10 patients, 44.4%). Univariate analysis showed that patients with multiple aneurysms (p=0.010), history of stroke (p=0.021), and aneurysm location in the posterior circulation (p=0.029) were significantly associated with aneurysm growth. @*Conclusion@#The growth of an UIA is associated with the history of stroke, posterior location, and multiplicity. Considering the risk of unruptured aneurysm growth, patients with such risk factors should receive additional attention during follow-up.
ABSTRACT
Eleven cohorts of miners occupationally exposed to relatively high concentrations of radon showed a statistically significantly high risk of lung cancer, while three cohorts from the general population showed a relatively low concentration, but the results were not statistically significant. However, the risk of lung cancer tended to increase with increased radon exposure. The risk is likely to have been underestimated due to low statistical power. Therefore, additional well-designed studies on the risk of lung cancer in nonsmokers in the general population with relatively low concentrations of radon exposure are needed in the future. In addition, country-specific preventive policies are needed in order to actively reduce radon exposure and lung cancer incidence in nonsmokers.