How is an AAA diagnosed?

New to all this and wondering how anyone spots an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) at all? This page walks through the answer one step at a time, for neighbors in Frankfort Township.

Where an AAA usually shows up

Most of the time, an AAA turns up while someone is being checked for something else. As my.clevelandclinic.org explains, since AAAs don’t usually cause symptoms, healthcare providers often diagnose unruptured AAAs through tests ordered for other health conditions.

What that tells you

A condition that rarely causes symptoms is hard to catch by feel alone. So the tests you already have for other reasons are the place it tends to show up.

Three publishers on AAA

Three publishers have pages worth a look. The Society of Interventional Radiology's page on abdominal aortic aneurysm and treatment options is one. The NHLBI overview of aortic aneurysm is another. The Society for Vascular Surgery's abdominal aortic aneurysm page rounds out the set.

One simple next step

Choose one of those three pages and read it this week. Write down any question it raises, then bring that list to your own clinician.

A methodical habit beats a worried one: read a little, write your questions down, then ask.