title: Positive predictive value of clinical suspicion for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Implications for use of ultrasonography.
abstract: To measure the positive predictive value (PPV) of clinical suspicion of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), as confirmed by ultrasonography, we reviewed the records of 343 patients at a university medical center referred to ultrasonography for newly suspected AAA. Positive predictive value was 11.1% for large aneurysms of at least 5.0 cm and 18.7% for aneurysms of at least 3.5 cm, and was higher for men and older patients. For patients under 50 years of age, PPV was only 2.6%. Ultrasonography for clinically suspected AAA has a low positive predictive yield, particularly for men under age 50 and for women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Quiroz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography