[Sonography versus angiography in the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm]

Angiographic and sonographic examinations have been compared in 15 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. The maximal internal diameter seen in the sonographic examination correlated well with the result of the angiographic examination. Sonography, however, has the advantage that not only the internal but also the external diameter of the aneurysm can be seen. This has an important bearing on assessment of the prognosis. The importance of sonography as a rapid, noninvasive method for diagnosis of abdominal aneurysm is stressed. The role of angiography should be confined to preoperative assessment of the location of the renal arteries, the celiac artery and the superior mesenteric artery in relation to the aneurysm itself, and the patency of the latter two arteries.