Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
Topic Overview
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can be found during an ultrasound screening test. Screening
tests help your doctor look for a certain disease or condition before any
symptoms appear.
Your doctor may recommend a screening test if you are a man
who is:
- Age 65 to 75 and has ever smoked.1
- At least 60 years old and who has a first-degree relative (for
example, father or brother) who has had an aneurysm.2
Some doctors think that other groups should be screened too. Some say all men 65 years and older should be screened, regardless of their risk. Some say men as young as 50 should be screened if they have a family history. Some say women age 65 and older should be screened if they have ever smoked or have a family history of AAA. Some say women should not be screened at all.
Talk to your doctor about whether the benefits of screening would outweigh the risks in your case. For more information, see:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Should I Get a Screening Test?
People
who have
Marfan's syndrome,
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or another condition that puts
them at risk may benefit from screening.
References
Citations
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2005).
Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Recommendation Statement (AHRQ Publication No. 05–0569-A). Rockville, MD: Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality. Also available online:
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsaneu.htm.
- Hirsch AT, et al. (2006). ACC/AHA 2005 practice
guidelines for the management of patients with peripheral arterial disease
(lower extremity, renal, mesenteric, and abdominal aortic): A collaborative
report from the American Association for Vascular Surgery/Society for Vascular
Surgery, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society for
Vascular Medicine and Biology, Society of Interventional Radiology, and the
ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop
Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease):
Endorsed by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
Rehabilitation; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Society for Vascular
Nursing; TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus; and Vascular Disease
Foundation. Circulation, 113(11): e463–e654.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery |
|---|
| Last Revised | February 22, 2012 |
|---|
Last Revised:
February 22, 2012
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2005).
Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Recommendation Statement (AHRQ Publication No. 05–0569-A). Rockville, MD: Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality. Also available online:
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsaneu.htm.
Hirsch AT, et al. (2006). ACC/AHA 2005 practice
guidelines for the management of patients with peripheral arterial disease
(lower extremity, renal, mesenteric, and abdominal aortic): A collaborative
report from the American Association for Vascular Surgery/Society for Vascular
Surgery, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society for
Vascular Medicine and Biology, Society of Interventional Radiology, and the
ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop
Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease):
Endorsed by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
Rehabilitation; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Society for Vascular
Nursing; TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus; and Vascular Disease
Foundation. Circulation, 113(11): e463–e654.
