What does atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta mean?

What does atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta mean?

Having atherosclerosis (say “ath-uh-roh-skluh-ROH-sis”) of the aorta means that a material called plaque (fat and calcium) has built up in the inside wall of a large blood vessel called the aorta. This plaque buildup is sometimes called “hardening of the arteries.”

How does atherosclerosis appear on ultrasound?

Established atherosclerotic lesions can be visualized with anatomical B-mode ultrasound imaging as protrusions of the intima-media (Figure 2) and the number of visualized plaques, as well as total plaque area or total plaque volume was reported to be an independent predictor of future cardiovascular mortality and …

How is abdominal aortic atherosclerosis diagnosed?

Blood tests to look for things that raise your risk of having atherosclerosis, like high cholesterol or blood sugar. CT scan or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to look for hardened or narrowed arteries. EKG, a record of your heart’s electrical activity.

What is the normal size of the abdominal aorta?

In most individuals, the diameter of the normal abdominal aorta is approximately 2.0 cm (range 1.4 to 3.0 cm). For practical purposes, an AAA is diagnosed when the aortic diameter exceeds 3.0 cm [1].

How serious is atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta?

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of abdominal aortic aneurysm and is the most common kind of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. This disease process can be seen in any blood vessel in the body and is the cause of coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Can you live a long life with atherosclerosis?

This can lead to severe health events such as heart attack and stroke. Living healthy with atherosclerosis is possible, though, and it’s important. Plaque, which is made up of fat, cholesterol and other substances, narrows the arteries and makes blood clots more likely to form.

Can ultrasound detect plaque in arteries?

The ultrasound can “see” if any cholesterol plaque is present in the artery and more. It can also determine the characteristic of the plaque. Soft plaque is more dangerous because it is prone to rupture and cause a heart attack or stroke.

Can you see an aortic aneurysm on an ultrasound?

Tests to diagnose an abdominal aortic aneurysm include: Abdominal ultrasound. This is the most common test to diagnose abdominal aortic aneurysms. An abdominal ultrasound is a painless test that uses sound waves to show how blood flows through the structures in the belly area, including the aorta.

What does an abdominal aorta ultrasound show?

The ultrasound allows your interventional radiologist/vascular specialist to look at the size and shape of your aorta as well as the blood flow through it. This makes it an excellent tool for non-invasive detection of abdominal aortic aneurysms and any additional related incidental vascular abnormalities.