Thank you for replying to my AAA question. My AAA was discovered in 2007 at a 3.7. Since then I have been having it checked yearly. Everything was the same until last year when it measured 4.0cm. I forgot to mention that I had it checked with a CT scan the first four years than he switched me to ultra sound because he said I was getting to much radiation from the CT 's. When it came up a 4.0 last year I was very upset but he said not to worry that he didn 't think it had changed because the CT test is so much more accurate than the ultra sound . I had my last test (ultra sound) last month and it came back 4.4 cm. I really freaked out. He was still not concerned and said he still dosen 't think it has changed from the 3.7 that it was in 2007. I am having a CT in 6 months for peace of mind. This was at my insistance. He wan 't to wait a year. What do you think ? Have you been having yours checked with CT's or ultra sound? My blood pressure is great , but my cholesterol and triglycerides are a little high. I take medicine.

A millimeter or two is pretty small and within the margin of error. Mine has been all over the map, from 3.9 cm to 4.6. Depends on your local hospital lab, the tech doing the scan and the doctor doing the interpretation. I believe one thing the local lab will not do is is give a smaller measurement from one they have previously given. I live in Maine and go to my local (small) hospital. In 2009, the ultrasound came back at 4.3cm, increasing from 3.9cm. Like you, I was upset and went to a large, well known Boston hospital and had a 3-D CT scan with contrast. It came through at 4.6cm. The chief of surgery met with me (20 minutes) and pretty much said I should entertain open AAA surgery since I wasn't a great candidate for EVAR. Well, I became really concerned because as you know, open AAA surgery is a big deal with lots of risks. I decided to get a second opinion, so I got a copy of my CT scan on a DVD from the Boston hospital and began research on the best hospitals in the country who deal with many AAA surgeries. I settled on Mayo in Rochester, MN simply because they have a well deserved reputation and do over 200 AAA surgeries annually. I made an appointment with the Mayo Vascular department for a second opinion and it turned out to be a great move. Where the Boston Vascular spent 20 minutes with me and did not actually show me my own CT scan, the Mayo Vascular intake doctors spent a full couple of hours with me actually showing me how they measure an aneurysm using the same CTscan DVD from the Boston hospital. The Mayo interpretation was that my aneurysm had not changed from the initial CT scan in 2006 of 3.9/4.0cm and that it did not measure 4.6cm. I now fly out to Mayo once a year for a consult and ultrasound scan and there has been no change. My comfort level with the folks at Mayo is high and while it costs $500/$600 annually to fly out and stay one night, to me its worth the peace of mind that comes from knowing I'm at the right place.

My AA is 4.4 also and has been for the past four years. I monitor dearly. It also depends on your height and weight. I’m 6’ 1 190 and the doctor says that’s a little large for your size but OK.Good luck to you. So far so good.

Have it removed. I went to Dr. SULLIVAN at Abbott in Minneapolis. Mine was 5.5 and I had surgery. Dr. SULLIVAN is fantastic. Everything went as planned. I know longer have to worry about it rupturing. Peace of mind.

I also have AAA at 4 cm, just found it a month ago. Im worried and Dr said I could do whatever Ive been doing, is that what drs told you?

Hi: My AAA has been holding at 3.9, and my doctor has me doing my ultrasound every year. It has not grown in 3 years as of now. I am due again to be checked in April. I hope I never have to get the surgery, but I find peace in knowing that they are constantly making great advances in more safe surgery for all kinds of issues. My cholesterol and BP have been pretty good, and I know my doctor seemed more interested in keeping the BP stable for me. Hope you continue to do well.