Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are encountered by many healthcare providers such as interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, cardiologists, and general practitioners. Much effort has been placed in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of AAA with somewhat little understanding of its pathophysiology. AAA is a complex disease typically segmented into a process of proteolysis, inflammation, and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis with oxidative stress balancing its components. AAA and other aortic syndromes such as aortic dissection share this same process. On the other hand, AAA formation and aortic pathology may be acquired through infection like in mycotic aneurysm or may be genetic in origin such as seen with Ehlers-Danlos and Marfan syndromes.
SUMMARY
Forty two patients with suspected abdominal aneurysms were examined by contrast enhanced infusion computed tomography. Of these 17 also had ultrasound and 8 had additional aortography.
It is concluded that C.T. scan and ultrasound are accurate methods of diagnosing abdominal aortic aneurysms and should be used for the initial diagnosis and follow up.
Aortography, although invasive, provides information about the exact relationship of the aneurysm to the renal and visceral arteries and shows any vascular abnormality of importance to the surgeon.
It is suggested that C.T. and ultrasound complement rather than replace aortography in the diagnosis and management of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.