Would an Echocardiogram detect a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm if they weren't looking for it?

[Anonymous]

Please forgive the probable spelling errors in the subject line, I'm too lazy right now to google for spelling. My MIL has one, and told my husband it was genetic and he should be screened. He recently had a complete work-up and had an echo. Would they have detected it? Is this something I should mention to my pediatrician? We have 2 boys.

[Anonymous]

The ECHO would not necessarily have found it.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't mean to sound uncaring or mean, but this has got to be a question for your doctor. You can't ask this question of people on a parenting forum. An aortic aneurysm is nothing to be advised about by laypersons on a chat board. For goodness sake, you or your husband should call the doctor who did the ECHO this morning.

[Anonymous]

My grandfather died suddenly/unexpectedly from this in the early 1970s. My dad had his corrected/fixed about 3 years or so ago. At that time, he told my brother and me that we needed to get checked for it.

I finally (long story on the delay) got around to it a few months ago. I mentioned to my primary care that I'd like to be checked for this since it can be hereditary. She wrote a scrip for the sono. I had the sono within a week. No big deal... took about 15 minutes total.

I don't know whether it can be detected with an ECHO (I wouldn't think so, but I don't know)... Tell your doc that you (your DH) must be tested for this. Apparently men are more likely to have than women, and it is hereditary... and fixable if caught early.

GL