To the Editor.–The paper entitled "Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms" by Stokes and Butcher in the August issue of the Archives (107:297, 1973) stresses earlier diagnosis of these aneurysms as a requisite for elective resection with low death and morbidity rates.
Of the available diagnostic procedures, echographic (reflected ultrasonic scanning) examination1-3 is not mentioned. It needs to be stressed that in those institutions where the appropriate B-scanning apparatus is available, this method provides a noninvasive, painless, and safe diagnostic method, which is more accurate in overall detection of abdominal aneurysms than conventional roentgenographic methods. It regularly permits detection of dilation of the abdominal aorta with an accuracy to within a few millimeters. Presence of organized intraluminal clot does not interfere with the diagnosis.
Due to the noninvasive nature of this method, the aneurysms may be followed up by serial reexamination, if desired, and an elective time of operation selected. Surprisingly,