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Positive predictive value of clinical suspicion for abdominal aortic aneurysm

Implications for use of ultrasonography

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Ave., 53226, Milwaukee, WI

    Charles E. Kahn Jr. MD

Authors
  1. Charles E. Kahn Jr. MD
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  2. Francisco A. Quiroz MD
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Received from the Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Supported in part by the 1993 American Roentgen Ray Society Scholarship (CEK).

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Kahn, C.E., Quiroz, F.A. Positive predictive value of clinical suspicion for abdominal aortic aneurysm. J Gen Intern Med 11, 756–758 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02598992

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