Routine screening of young athletes for aneurysm: CON.
The death of a young athlete is a particularly devastating moment in any society because these individuals represent our strengths and physical prowess as human beings. For this reason, the concept of preparticipation screening has captured attention. A routine screening program applied nonselectively to a particular population in the hopes of reducing morbidity and mortality from a disease must meet certain criteria to be useful. This article examines the scope of the problem from the perspective of acute aortic syndrome and aortic death; and reviews ways, if any, to systematically screen the population to help eradicate this wanton killer of gifted young athletes.
Gerber
Jaime
J
Section of Cardiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. jgerber@ca-nh.com
Arcarese
Michael
M
D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D013177:Sports; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult