Question:easy

Excluding head trauma, the most common cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage is:

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Excluding trauma, ruptured berry (saccular) aneurysm is the top cause of SAH.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Arterio-venous malformation
  • Cavernous angioma
  • Aneurysm
  • Hypertension
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: When blood collects in the subarachnoid space without a history of injury, one cause dominates the statistics.

Step 2: That cause is a ruptured saccular aneurysm, also called a berry aneurysm. These outpouchings form where arteries of the circle of Willis branch, and their walls are thin enough to burst suddenly, producing the classic thunderclap headache.

Step 3: The remaining choices are weaker. Arteriovenous malformations and cavernous angiomas are uncommon contributors, while raised blood pressure tends to cause bleeding deep within the brain substance rather than over its surface.

Step 4: So, excluding trauma, aneurysm rupture is the top cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage.

\[\boxed{\text{Aneurysm}}\]
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