Health encyclopaedia

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Diagnosis of Aneurysm

Sometimes a doctor feels the bulge of an aortic aneurysm during a routine examination of the abdomen.

An ultrasound scan is the usual procedure for diagnosing an aneurysm of the aorta. This is a painless test that is also able to measure the size of the aneurysm. This can be an important factor when deciding on treatment.

An aneurysm of the brain can be detected by a special kind of X-ray called an angiogram or arteriogram. To show up the aneurysm, a dye that is opaque to X-rays is injected into the bloodstream. The blood in the vessels shows up on the film as white columns. If there is a swelling on an artery, the dye in the blood will pass into it and the X-ray will show a swelling.

More detailed scans, such as a CT scan, may be used to find out if the aneurysm is affecting any of the arteries that come off the aorta. For instance, if the aneurysm involves the arteries to the kidneys then surgeons need this information if they plan to operate.

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