Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening in New Jersey
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially life-threatening enlargement of the aorta — the large artery that carries blood from the heart through the abdomen to the lower body. Most AAAs develop silently, without symptoms, until they rupture — an event that is fatal in over 80% of cases when it occurs outside a hospital setting. Screening and early detection save lives. Cross County Cardiology offers AAA screening as part of our comprehensive vascular care program in Northern New Jersey.
What Is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?
The normal diameter of the abdominal aorta is approximately 2 centimeters. An aneurysm is diagnosed when the aorta dilates to 3 centimeters or greater. As the aneurysm expands, the thinned aortic wall becomes increasingly prone to rupture. The risk of rupture increases significantly when the AAA diameter reaches 5.5 centimeters (in men) or 5.0 centimeters (in women), and surgical or endovascular repair is typically recommended at these thresholds.
AAAs are most common in men over age 65 and are strongly associated with smoking, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and a family history of aneurysm disease.
Who Should Be Screened?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and major cardiovascular societies recommend one-time AAA screening with abdominal ultrasound for:
- Men aged 65–75 who have ever smoked (defined as 100 or more cigarettes in a lifetime)
- Men aged 60 or older with a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) who had an AAA
Additional screening or monitoring may be appropriate for women with multiple risk factors, or for patients with known connective tissue disorders (such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) that predispose to aortic dilation.
How AAA Screening Is Performed
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening is performed using ultrasound — the same technology used in echocardiography and vascular duplex studies. The examination is painless, takes approximately 15–30 minutes, and requires no radiation or contrast. You will lie on an examination table while a transducer is placed on your abdomen, providing real-time images of the aorta. Measurement of the aortic diameter at multiple levels is recorded.
For optimal image quality, we typically ask patients to fast for 4–6 hours prior to the examination, as bowel gas can occasionally obscure visualization of the aorta.
What Happens If an Aneurysm Is Found?
Management depends on the size of the aneurysm and its rate of growth:
- Small AAA (3.0–4.4 cm): Surveillance ultrasound every 2–3 years; aggressive risk factor modification including smoking cessation, blood pressure control, and statin therapy
- Medium AAA (4.5–5.4 cm): Surveillance every 6–12 months; cardiology and vascular surgery co-management; discussion of elective repair timing
- Large AAA (≥5.5 cm in men, ≥5.0 cm in women): Referral to vascular surgery for elective repair — either open surgical repair or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), depending on anatomy and patient fitness
Schedule Your AAA Screening in New Jersey
If you meet the screening criteria or have concerns about vascular disease, contact Cross County Cardiology at (551) 373-9007. Our vascular team provides thorough, expert evaluation and monitoring across our five Northern New Jersey locations. Early detection makes a critical difference in outcomes.
