A 43-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department because of a sudden and severe headache. Her blood pressure is 160/90 mm Hg and pulse is 90/min. Her pupils are symmetric and reactive to light and she can move all four extremities without weakness. CT of her head is shown below. This patient's condition is most likely caused by which of the following?

Question

A 43-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department because of a sudden and severe headache. Her blood pressure is 160/90 mm Hg and pulse is 90/min. Her pupils are symmetric and reactive to light and she can move all four extremities without weakness. CT of her head is shown below.  This patient's condition is most likely caused by which of the following?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: A severe headache that is present all over is a symptom of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Patients typically state that it is "the worst headache of my life." Arteriovenous malformations or saccular (berry) aneurysms are the most common causes of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is related with Berry aneurysms of the circle of Willis.

A 43-Year-Old Woman Is Brought to the Emergency Department Because