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Diagnosis
Abdominal palpation had moderate sensitivity and specificity for detecting abdominal aortic aneurysm

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebm.6.1.24

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    (2000) Arch Intern Med 160, 833. Fink HA, Lederle FA, Roth CS. , et al.. The accuracy of physical examination to detect abdominal aortic aneurysm.. Mar 27;. :. –6.
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 QUESTION: In adults who were >50 years of age, is abdominal palpation accurate for detecting abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?

    Design

    Blinded comparison of abdominal palpation with ultrasonography.

    Setting

    Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

    Participants

    200 participants who were 51 to 88 years of age (mean age 73 y, 98% men) and had known AAAs (≥3 cm in diameter) (n=99) or known absence of AAAs (n=101).

    Description of test and diagnostic standard

    2 internists independently examined patients who were in a supine position with raised knees and relaxed abdomen (400 examination findings). Internists attempted to identify aortic pulsation by deep palpation of the upper abdomen. An AAA was considered to be present when the aorta was judged to be ≥3 cm in maximum …

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    Footnotes

    • Source of funding: not stated.

    • For correspondence: Dr F A Lederle, Department of Medicine (III-0), Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA. Fax +1 612 725 2118.