Brain aneurysms are fairly common.
Nearly 10 million Americans have aneurysms each year, and a majority of those cases are not fatal if they are caught and proper treatment is given. When diagnosed, an aneurysm can often be treated successfully with surgery or other types of therapy. A brain aneurysm is a balloon-like enlargement of an artery at the base of the brain. Aneurysms come in different shapes and sizes, but usually occur at branching points along an artery. They can become life-threatening if they burst or begin to bleed.