Newly diagnosed with 3.9cm ascending aorta

If your family has aneurysms, you need a genetic screening to find or rule out connective tissue syndromes. I am waiting for my cardiologist to order mine. The size of the aneurysm determines when surgery is warranted and if a there is a connective tissue syndrome surgery is recommended at a smaller size (like 4.5cm). This is from my research.

Hi Donna, I agree with you. I want to ask for the genetic testing to know if this is a familial issue or what. What dr. should I ask about this? I am following up with a cardiologist I saw two years ago when I had an echocardiogram which measured my ascending aorta at 3.74 but he never even mentioned it. I also had a coronary calcium score ct scan at the same time and the written report by the radiologist says “no aneurysms” in the incidental findings area. Fast forward to last month.. had a lung ct scan as a lung cancer screening program (former smoker) and this ct scan had a 3.9 cm ascending aorta listed as an “incidental finding”

This does seem to be a familial issue. My father-in-law has a AAA with a size of 5.2cm. His sister, 2 brothers, and possibly his father had it as well. The sister had a repair surgery performed and then died about 5 years later. My father-in-law is having a AAA repaired on October 17, 2024. He's 71. My husband had to be checked for it a few years back, and they recommend it again at 50 for him. Now, I'm curious as to how much time we have left with his dad after having the surgery.

Hello, thanks for sharing your family’s experience with AAA. My father in law had one repaired many years ago at 5.5cm. He had a stent and was told don’t smoke, control your BP. He was 60 at the time. He continued to smoke a little on and off and his ruptured and he died from it 5 years later. His mother (husbands grandmother) had open repair of her AAA. Don’t know how old she was exactly but I think she was in her sixties and she continued to smoke and then died at 90 years old from dementia. There is a proven association with AAA’s and smoking status, and I would never recommend anyone continue to smoke but I think that lifestyle, familial histories, etc only tell part of the story. Wishing you and your family good health.

Smoking is lethal. What I miss is salt. And wine. The non-alcoholic stuff is drinkable and it feels familiar if you put it in a regular wine glass.

In 2018, I was told that I had a 4.2. Then, a month later, was told I didn't have one. They said it was "overread." Fast forward, had a CT on unrelated issue. They found a 4.2 aneurysm. I've had it for six years, hasn't grown. Doctor said keep doing what I'm doing! They will monitor it yearly. We just need to live life, be thankful and enjoy each day! They don't always grow!!!

Thank you! I agree with you that we need to just live each day with gratitude. I’m glad to hear yours is stable and hope mine will be also and that they stay that way! Wishing you good heath!

Welcome.

The variance you mention in measurement over 2 years is within the margin of difference between imaging modalities. My doctor reads anything within 3 mm as "stable."

You should receive a genetic screening for aortic aneurysms. And a full rheumatological panel.

Hi Lara, thank you for your reply. Everything I have read has indicated the same… I am hoping that mine is stable these last couple years and will stay that way. I do plan on seeing my cardiologist within the next month or so and seeing if I can get some genetic testing and also asking to get an ultrasound on my abdomen to look for anything there since this was found on a lung ct scan. I know that people sometimes have aneurysms on the abdominal portion of the aorta as well. I worry about that. How are you doing with your current situation? I remember reading that you’ve been monitoring yours for awhile and you were getting closer to the point that yours needed to be addressed surgically. I know that surgery is a daunting event to go through but when I read about those who have had the surgery they are all very happy to have it behind them. Wishing you good health!

I am at 5 cm, and no luck on addressing the increasingly obvious autoinflammatory condition. It's hitting my eyes now, too. So that'll be harder to ignore.