Aortic Aneurysm -- Often An Unexpected Diagnosis

Main Category: Vascular
Also Included In: MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Article Date: 08 May 2008 - 0:00 PST

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An aortic aneurysm can be a surprising, serious and unsettling diagnosis.

Aortic aneurysms are frequently discovered at a routine exam -- through a CT scan or ultrasound of the abdomen, or an X-ray of the chest that's done for another purpose. Often, there are no symptoms, but aortic aneurysms can burst or tear without warning and cause life-threatening bleeding.

The May issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter provides an overview of this medical condition.

How they happen: An aneurysm occurs when the wall of the aorta becomes weak or damaged. The aorta, the main artery supplying blood to the body, exits at the top of the heart and curves downward, passing through the chest and abdomen. Over time, the constant pressure of blood flowing through a weakened area can cause a section of the aorta to slowly enlarge. Most often, the condition occurs in the abdomen.

Risk factors: A healthy aorta stretches and relaxes to accommodate blood pulses from the heart. With age, the aorta becomes less elastic. Most abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in adults over age 60. But age is seldom the only contributing factor. Smoking, high blood pressure and atherosclerosis, a buildup of cholesterol-containing fatty deposits on artery walls, also can contribute to weakening the aorta.

Screening: Aortic aneurysms are too rare to warrant widespread screening via a CT scan or an ultrasound. However, screening might be recommended for certain high-risk groups such as:

-- Men 65 or older who have been or still are smokers

-- Men over 50 and women over 60 whose parent or sibling had an aortic aneurysm

Treatment: If the aneurysm is small, lifestyle changes or medication can slow the growth and reduce risk of rupture. They include quitting tobacco use; treating hypertension; getting regular, moderate exercise; avoiding long periods of strenuous activities; and improving cholesterol levels. For larger aneurysms, surgery is often necessary to repair the aneurysm.

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