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Tender pulsatile abdominal mass. Abdominal aortic aneurysm or not?
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|May 1, 1980
Summary
For symptomatic pulsatile abdominal masses, abdominal angiography is recommended before surgery. This diagnostic imaging helps avoid unnecessary operations and accurately identifies abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Background:
- Pulsatile abdominal masses can indicate serious vascular conditions.
- Diagnostic challenges exist in differentiating true aneurysms from other causes.
Observation:
- Six patients initially underwent surgery without arteriography, revealing only one abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Arteriography in 23 subsequent patients avoided unnecessary surgery by ruling out aneurysms.
Findings:
- Abdominal angiography is highly accurate in diagnosing abdominal aortic aneurysms.
- The procedure provides crucial preoperative information for potential surgical interventions.
Implications:
- Routine use of angiography for pulsatile abdominal masses can prevent unnecessary exploratory surgeries.
- Angiography offers valuable insights into underlying vascular pathologies even when aneurysms are absent.