• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
UCLA Interventional Radiology

UCLA Interventional Radiology

UCLA Interventional Radiology
  • Back to Main Radiology
  • About Us
  • Conditions Treated
    • Ascites
    • Aneurysm and Dissection
    • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
    • Biliary Leak
    • Biliary Obstruction
    • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
    • Encephalopathy
    • Gastrointestinal Bleeding
    • Gastrointestinal Ischemia
    • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
    • Liver Cancer
    • Liver Cancer (Metastatic)
    • Malnutrition
    • Obstruction
    • Osteoarthritis of the Knee
    • Peripheral Arterial Disease
    • Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
    • Portal Hypertension
    • Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
    • Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
    • Uterine Fibroids
    • Variceal Bleeding
    • Varicocele
    • Varicose/Spider Veins
    • Venous and Lymphatic Malformations
    • Vertebral Fracture
    • Ascites
    • Aneurysm and Dissection
    • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
    • Biliary Leak
    • Biliary Obstruction
    • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
    • Encephalopathy
    • Gastrointestinal Bleeding
    • Gastrointestinal Ischemia
    • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
    • Liver Cancer
    • Liver Cancer (Metastatic)
    • Malnutrition
    • Obstruction
    • Osteoarthritis of the Knee
    • Peripheral Arterial Disease
    • Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
    • Portal Hypertension
    • Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
    • Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
    • Uterine Fibroids
    • Variceal Bleeding
    • Varicocele
    • Venous and Lymphatic Malformations
    • Vertebral Fracture
  • Treatments & Procedures
    • Angiography
    • Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
    • Arterial Thrombolysis
    • Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration
    • Biliary Drainage
    • Biopsy, Percutaneous
    • Chemoembolization
    • Cyst Aspiration/Sclerosis
    • Dialysis Fistula/Graft Interventions
    • Drainage, Percutaneous
    • Embolization
    • Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement
    • Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
    • Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal
    • Lung Biopsy
    • Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
    • Pulmonary Angiography and Embolization
    • Radioembolization (Y90)
    • Stent Graft Placement
    • Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
    • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
    • Tumor Ablation
    • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
    • Varicocele Embolization
    • Varicose Vein Treatment
    • Vascular Access Procedures
    • Venous Thrombolysis and Recanalization
    • Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
    • Angiography
    • Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
    • Arterial Thrombolysis
    • Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration
    • Biliary Drainage
    • Biopsy Percutaneous
    • Chemoembolization
    • Cyst Aspiration/Sclerosis
    • Dialysis Fistula/Graft Interventions
    • Drainage Percutaneous
    • Embolization
    • Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement
    • Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
    • Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal
    • Lung Biopsy
    • Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
    • Pulmonary Angiography and Embolization
    • Radioembolization (Y90)
    • Stent Graft Placement
    • Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
    • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
    • Tumor Ablation
    • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
    • Varicocele Embolization
    • Vascular Access Procedures
    • Venous thrombolysis and recanalization
    • Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Contact Us
  • Our Expert Team
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine

UCLA Interventional Radiology

Treatments & Procedures

Treatments & Procedures

Treatments & Procedures

  • Angiography
  • Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
  • Arterial Thrombolysis
  • Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration
  • Biliary Drainage
  • Biopsy Percutaneous
  • Chemoembolization
  • Cyst Aspiration/Sclerosis
  • Dialysis Fistula/Graft Interventions
  • Drainage Percutaneous
  • Embolization
  • Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement
  • Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
  • Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal
  • Lung Biopsy
  • Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
  • Pulmonary Angiography and Embolization
  • Radioembolization (Y90)
  • Stent Graft Placement
  • Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
  • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
  • Tumor Ablation
  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
  • Varicocele Embolization
  • Vascular Access Procedures
  • Venous thrombolysis and recanalization
  • Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
  • Angiography
  • Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
  • Arterial Thrombolysis
  • Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration
  • Biliary Drainage
  • Biopsy Percutaneous
  • Chemoembolization
  • Cyst Aspiration/Sclerosis
  • Dialysis Fistula/Graft Interventions
  • Drainage Percutaneous
  • Embolization
  • Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement
  • Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
  • Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal
  • Lung Biopsy
  • Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
  • Pulmonary Angiography and Embolization
  • Radioembolization (Y90)
  • Stent Graft Placement
  • Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
  • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
  • Tumor Ablation
  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
  • Varicocele Embolization
  • Vascular Access Procedures
  • Venous thrombolysis and recanalization
  • Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
  1. Home
  2. UCLA Interventional Radiology
  3. Treatments & Procedures
  4. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Ultrasound Screening

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Ultrasound Screening

Share this

Why it’s done:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an enlargement of the aorta, which can be detected by a screening ultrasound examination. Abdominal aortic aneurysms can be commonly asymptomatic and can be silently unnoticed for many years. Continued growth beyond a certain size carries risk of fatal rupture which is a life-threatening medical emergency. Early detection of AAA by screening ultrasound has been linked to lower rates of rupture and deaths.

You risk of AAA is increased if you:

  • are male
  • over 65 years
  • are currently smoking or have previously smoked
  • have a family member with an abdominal aortic aneurysm

The following organizations recommend AAA screening by ultrasound:

United States Preventative Services Task Force 1

  • Recommend one-time screening for AAA with ultrasonography in men ages 65 to 75 years who have ever smoked (class B recommendation)
  • Recommend selective screening for AAA with ultrasonography in men ages 65 to 75 years who have never smoked (class C recommendation)

American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology 2

  • Recommend one-time screening for AAA with physical examination and ultrasonography in men ages 65 to 75 years who have ever smoked or in men age 60 years or older who are the sibling or offspring of a person with AAA

Society of Vascular Surgery 3

  • Recommend one-time ultrasonography screening for AAA in men age 55 years or older with a family history of AAA, all men age 65 years or older, and women age 65 years or older who have smoked or have a family history of AAA 

 

How it’s done:

A quick, painless, non invasive ultrasound examination of the abdomen detects if the diameter of the aorta is greater than 3.0 cm.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

Ultrasound image of AAA detected by screening, measuring 3.7 cm (red arrow).

 

Level of anesthesia:

None

 

Risks:

None

 

Post-procedure:

No recovery period or activity restrictions. 

 

Follow-up:

If a AAA is detected by your screening ultrasound examination, your primary care doctor will be notified. We also can provide advanced imaging of the aorta and blood vessels using CT and MR and referral for endovascular or surgical consultation, as needed.

 

For More Information:

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit the contact us page.

 

References:

  1. Guirguis-Blake, Janelle M, et al. “Primary Care Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK184793/.
  2. “Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Screening.” US Preventive Services Task Force, June 2014, https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screening.
  3. Hirsch, Alan T., et al. “ACC/AHA 2005 Practice Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease (Lower Extremity, Renal, Mesenteric, and Abdominal Aortic).” Circulation, vol. 113, no. 11, 2006, pp. e463–654., doi:10.1161/circulationaha.106.174526.
  4. Chaikof, Elliot L., et al. “The Care of Patients with an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: The Society for Vascular Surgery Practice Guidelines.” Journal of Vascular Surgery, vol. 50, no. 4, 2009, pp. S2–49., doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2009.07.002.
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest
UCLA Health hospitals ranked best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report
  • UCLA Health
  • Find a Doctor
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Subscribe
  • Patient Stories
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • International Services
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Billing
  • Health Plans
  • Emergency
  • Report Broken Links
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Your Feedback
  • Report Misconduct
  • Get Social
  • Sitemap
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest

Sign in to myUCLAhealth