Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Guidelines

Screening Recommendations by Population Group

The American College of Physicians recommends that men ages 65 to 75 who have ever smoked should receive a one-time screening for AAA with ultrasonography (Grade B recommendation) 1
Men ages 65 to 75 who have never smoked may be selectively offered screening rather than routinely screening all men in this group (Grade C recommendation) 1, 2
The prevalence of large AAAs is lower in men who have never smoked compared to those who have ever smoked, resulting in smaller potential benefit from screening 2
AAA is rare in women who have never smoked 1

AAA screening is performed using abdominal ultrasonography, which is safe, painless, and has high sensitivity and specificity 1
Ultrasonography should be performed in an accredited facility with credentialed technologists to ensure adequate quality assurance 2
For small aneurysms (less than 5.5 cm in diameter), periodic monitoring with ultrasound is typically recommended 1
Surgical intervention is generally recommended for aneurysms 5.5 cm or larger, or those growing rapidly 1