Abdominal aortic aneurysm expansion rate per year is best described as which value?

• A. 1-2 cm/year
• B. 0.2-0.3 cm/year
• C. 0.5 cm/year
• D. 0.01 cm/year

Answer: (B)

Growth of an abdominal aortic aneurysm on serial imaging is typically slow, about a few millimeters per year. In clinical terms, the usual description is roughly 0.2–0.3 cm per year, which corresponds to about 2–3 mm/year. This rate provides the basis for surveillance intervals and risk assessment: most small AAAs grow at this modest pace, while larger aneurysms may accelerate but, on average, the description of growth is in the 0.2–0.3 cm/year range. Values like 1–2 cm/year imply very rapid progression and are not representative of the common course, while 0.01 cm/year would indicate negligible growth and 0.5 cm/year is above average but not the typical description.