Which imaging studies are used to evaluate an abdominal aortic aneurysm?

• A. Abdominal ultrasound and CT
• B. MRI only
• C. X-ray
• D. Ultrasound only

Answer: (A)

Evaluating an abdominal aortic aneurysm relies on two main imaging tests: ultrasound and CT. Ultrasound is the first-line tool because it is quick, inexpensive, widely available, and accurately measures the aortic diameter to detect an aneurysm and monitor its growth over time. CT, especially CT angiography, provides detailed anatomy of the aneurysm, showing its size in multiple planes, the presence of mural thrombus, and the relationship to branch vessels, which is crucial for planning treatment (open repair or endovascular). MRI can be used in select cases where contrast or radiation is a concern, but it is not the standard first-line or preoperative imaging due to longer scan times and limited availability. X-ray cannot reliably evaluate aneurysm size or anatomy, so it’s not used for this purpose.