Mammography - Film & Digital
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening
The abdominal aortic aneurysm screening exam is an ultrasound exam. Ultrasound, also called sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves far above the range of human hearing to obtain images of the inside of the body. Sound waves are directed at a particular area of the body. The different body tissues reflect the waves back in varying degrees. The echoed waves are recorded and displayed as a continuous real-time image on a computer monitor. Since the images are real-time, ultrasound has the benefit of allowing the radiologist to see motion, such as blood flow.
Ultrasound is accurate in screening for the size of abdominal aortic aneurysms. It is painless, safe, and quick.
Important Notice:
Beginning January 1, 2007, recently passed legislation includes Medicare patient coverage of a one-time ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Patients at risk for AAA will receive the benefit as part of their “Welcome to Medicare” physical. The covered patient population is men age 65 and over who have smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lives. The exam must be conducted within the first 6 months of enrollment in Medicare.
This page contains the following information about abdominal aortic aneurysm screening:
- Reasons for Having Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
- Risks Involved in This Exam
- Conditions to Let Your Doctor Know About
- Insurance Coverage
- Exam Locations
- Scheduling This Exam
- Preparation Guidelines
- What to Expect During Your Exam
- Recovering from Your Imaging Exam
- Getting Your Exam Results
Reasons for Having Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
Abdominal aortic aneurysms usually cause no symptoms and a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is life-threatening. If you qualify for the risk factors for developing an AAA, a screening exam will determine if an AAA has already developed. If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm, you and your doctor can determine a course of action to treat the AAA or reduce the likelihood of it growing and rupturing.
Risks Involved in This Exam
No radiation is used in this examination and there are no known health risks.
Conditions to Let Our Doctor Know About
There are no conditions that will interfere with your abdominal aortic aneurysm screening exam.
Insurance Coverage
Beginning January 1, 2007, recently passed legislation includes Medicare patient coverage of a one-time ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Patients at risk for AAA will receive the benefit as part of their “Welcome to Medicare” physical. The covered patient population includes men age 65 and over who have smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lives, plus women with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The exam must be conducted within the first 6 months of enrollment in Medicare.
If you do not qualify for coverage under Medicare, please check with your insurance company regarding your coverage for this exam.
Exam Locations
An abdominal aortic aneurysm screening exam can be done at the following INVISION locations:
Scheduling This Exam
To schedule an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening exam, call 720-493-3700.
Preparation Guidelines
Following are the preparation guidelines for an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening exam. Please contact us at 720-493-3700 if you have any questions.
- For morning appointments, no food or drink after midnight the day of the exam (except a small amount of water for medications).
- For afternoon appointments, no food or liquid after 7am (except a small amount of water for medications).
- Arrive 20 minutes prior to your appointment time.
What to Expect During Your Exam
Before your exam begins, the sonographer will explain the procedure, answer any questions you have, and position you on a padded table for the exam. You will need to pull up your shirt to expose your abdomen for the exam.
A transducer, which is a handheld device that produces and records sound waves, will be placed against the area to be evaluated. In most cases, a clear, warm gel is applied to the skin to help the sound penetrate into your body. The sonographer will move the transducer across your abdomen while watching a continuous image on a computer screen. You won’t feel any pain during the procedure, but you may feel some mild discomfort.
The sonographer may leave the room to show images to a radiologist. The radiologist may come in during the exam to watch the ultrasound or perform part of the exam personally.
The exam will take approximately 30 minutes. After the exam, the technologist will help you remove any remaining gel.
Recovering from Your Exam
There is no recovery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening exam. You can return to your normal activities immediately after the exam.
Getting Your Exam Results
A radiologist experienced in the interpretation of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening exams will analyze the data and results from your exam and compile a report. This report will be sent to your doctor that requested the study. During the exam, our radiologists and technologists will be happy to answer questions about the exam procedure itself; however, they will not immediately provide you with the results of your exam.
