Guest Post from Deborah L. Benzil, MD, FACS, FAANS
Member, AANS Board of Directors
Chair, AANS/CNS Communications and Public Relations Committee
MKMG
Columbia University Medical Center
Mt Kisco, New York
The untimely death of the esteemed newswoman Terry Keenan from a cerebral aneurysm was shocking to many people around the world. At 53, Ms. Keenan was one of the most respected business journalists-having risen to the top of the New York Post, Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network and CNN. Just the word BRAIN ANEURYSM sends shivers down most patients’ spines. Fortunately, neurosurgeons have long treated this devastating disorder and through a spectrum of interventions, can often intervene and cure this potentially fatal condition.
Take the case of Amanda Tocci. She was just 22, a fitness fanatic with no discernable health problems and finishing her senior year in college, when a dizzy spell during a basketball game sent her scurrying to the hospital. The careful evaluation completed at UPMC revealed a 12-15 mm aneurysm. Fortunately for her, a talented neurosurgeon, Dr. Daniel Wecht, operated and she returned to classes in just a few weeks, graduating on-time.
Neurosurgeons invest not just in their individual patients, but they also bring innovation to the specialty, allowing less invasive and safer surgical interventions for most of their patients. Because of these dedicated efforts in advancing the field, the treatment of brain aneurysms has, in particular, changed and progressed over the last two decades. And many have benefitted. Did you know all of the following have survived their own cerebral 
aneurysm?
- Vice President, Joe Biden
- Quincy Jones
- Bill Berry
- Sharon Stone
- Neil Young (See the movie by Jonathan Demme)
- Maryam D’Abo (she also made a movie)
- Peter Morrissey
- Teri Garr
(Read their amazing stories by clicking the links.)
Neurosurgeons are thrilled to play a part in allowing those who have survived a brain aneurysm to continue to make remarkable contributions by the Amanda Toccis of the world. We remain dedicated to all our patients and to the innovation which can further enhance quality patient outcomes.
For more information, please see the Patient Information page from the AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section.
