AAA Screening in Maine: What It Is and Why It Matters After 65

By Emanuel Papadakis, RDCS, RVT  |  March 17, 2026  |  Preventive Screening

There is a cardiovascular condition that kills thousands of Americans every year, produces no symptoms until it becomes a life-threatening emergency, and can be detected in under 10 minutes with a painless ultrasound exam. Most people have never heard of it.

It's called an abdominal aortic aneurysm — and if you're a man over 65 who has ever smoked, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends you be screened for it.

What Is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

The aorta is the largest artery in your body. It runs from your heart down through your chest and abdomen, supplying blood to your organs and lower extremities. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when the wall of the aorta weakens and balloons outward in the abdominal section.

A normal abdominal aorta measures about 2 centimeters in diameter. An aneurysm is typically defined as a dilation of 3 centimeters or greater. Once an AAA reaches 5.5 centimeters, the risk of rupture increases significantly — and a ruptured aortic aneurysm carries a mortality rate of up to 80%.

The problem: most AAAs produce no pain, no symptoms, and no warning until they rupture or become large enough to cause pressure on surrounding structures. Many are discovered incidentally during imaging for something else entirely.

Who Is at Risk?

The primary risk factors for AAA are well established:

• ›Male sex — men are 4–6 times more likely to develop AAA than women
• ›Age 65 or older — prevalence increases significantly after 65
• ›Smoking history — current or former smokers have the highest risk; smoking is the single strongest modifiable risk factor
• ›High blood pressure — chronic hypertension weakens arterial walls
• ›Family history — first-degree relatives of AAA patients have elevated risk
• ›Atherosclerosis — the same plaque disease that affects the heart and carotid arteries affects the aorta

Women can develop AAA as well, particularly older women with smoking history, though at lower rates than men.

The USPSTF Recommendation

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gives a Grade B recommendation — meaning significant benefit with high certainty — for one-time AAA screening ultrasound in men aged 65–75 who have ever smoked (defined as 100 or more cigarettes in their lifetime).

This recommendation is based on strong evidence that screening reduces AAA-related mortality in this population. One-time screening is sufficient because AAAs that are not present at age 65 are unlikely to develop and rupture before other causes of mortality become dominant.

For men 65–75 who have never smoked, and for women with risk factors, screening is a reasonable discussion to have with your physician — though the USPSTF evidence is less definitive for these groups.

What Happens During an AAA Screening

An abdominal aortic aneurysm screening is one of the simplest ultrasound studies we perform. You'll lie comfortably on your back. I'll apply ultrasound gel to your abdomen and use a transducer to image the abdominal aorta from multiple views, measuring its diameter at several points.

The entire exam typically takes 15–20 minutes. There's no radiation, no contrast dye, no needles, and no discomfort.

For best image quality, we ask that you fast for 4–6 hours before the exam. Abdominal gas can occasionally obscure the aorta, and an empty stomach produces cleaner images.

Results are interpreted by our board-certified cardiologist and delivered to you within 24–48 hours with a clear explanation of findings and recommended next steps if anything requires follow-up.

AAA Screening Results: What They Mean

• ›Under 3.0 cm — normal. No aneurysm present.
• ›3.0–3.9 cm — small aneurysm. Surveillance imaging recommended every 3 years.
• ›4.0–4.9 cm — medium aneurysm. More frequent surveillance, typically every 6–12 months.
• ›5.0–5.4 cm — approaching surgical threshold. Close monitoring and vascular surgery consultation recommended.
• ›5.5 cm or greater — surgical repair is generally recommended due to elevated rupture risk.

The majority of people screened will have a normal result — and that result has real value. Knowing your aorta is healthy at 65 is meaningful clinical information.

Mobile AAA Screening in Southern Maine

BlackPoint Diagnostics offers mobile AAA screening throughout Southern Maine at a flat rate of $397. No referral required. We come to your home or preferred location. Results reviewed by a board-certified cardiologist within 24–48 hours.

To our knowledge, no other independent imaging service in Maine offers mobile AAA screening. Hospital-based screening requires a referral and typically a multi-week wait. If you or someone you know meets the USPSTF criteria — male, 65–75, ever smoked — this is a screening worth prioritizing.

How to Schedule an AAA Screening in Maine

Serving Brunswick, Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Bath, Freeport, Biddeford, Topsham, Lewiston, Auburn, and surrounding Southern Maine communities. Book directly at blackpointdiagnostics.com — no referral needed, same-week appointments available.

Questions? Call or text (207) 409-7797.