How is abdominal aortic aneurysm detected?
Most aneurysms [60%] do not cause any symptoms, therefore they are diagnosed coincidentally when the patients are examined for another problem, or if they have a scan for a different reason [i.e. kidney trouble or gallstones for example]. Occasionally the patient may be aware of a pulsation in the abdomen. As the aneurysm stretches, it may cause symptoms, the most common of which is backache as it pushes the spine. It may also cause ankle swelling [by compressing the main vein in the abdomen], shooting pain in the groin by compressing nerves, or tenderness in the abdomen in cases of inflammation.
