Surveillance of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm

The ascending aorta has a normal diameter in the range of 2.0 to 2.5 cm. A diameter which is double this diameter is considered an aneurysm. All aneurysms must be followed carefully with serial echocardiograms, CT scan or MRI. The frequency of the surveillance study is dependent on symptoms, family history of aneurysm or dissection, size of the aneurysm, and the cause of the aneurysm. Your cardiologist or aortic specialist would set up an appropriate schedule.