Male Scans
AAA Screening
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a swelling of the main blood vessel in the abdomen. It is most common in men, usually causes no symptoms at all until it becomes serious, and is exactly what screening was designed to catch. A single short ultrasound measures the aorta and tells you whether it is a normal size. Carried out and reported by a qualified sonographer in Great Yarmouth, usually within a few days of booking.
Prices from £175
AAA Screening Norfolk
What Is An AAA Screening Scan?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a swelling of the main blood vessel in the abdomen. It is most common in men, usually causes no symptoms at all until it becomes serious, and is exactly what screening was designed to catch. A single short ultrasound measures the aorta and tells you whether it is a normal size. Carried out and reported by a qualified sonographer in Great Yarmouth, usually within a few days of booking.
This scan uses ultrasound to look at the abdominal aorta along its length and measure its width precisely. A small handheld probe is moved down the middle of your abdomen and sound waves build a live image on screen. There is no radiation and no injection, and the measurement itself takes only a few minutes. It is the same test the NHS screening programme uses.
Included in your scan
What’s Covered
- Abdominal aorta: viewed along its full length from below the ribs to where it divides in the lower abdomen.
- Precise measurement: the width of the aorta measured at its widest point, which is the figure that matters.
- Iliac arteries: a look at the two branch vessels where the aorta divides, where the view allows.
- Clear classification: your result explained on the day as normal, or as a small, medium or large aneurysm with the appropriate next step.
Registered & Regulated
Norfolk Medical Imaging is registered with the Care Quality Commission and every scan is performed by a sonographer registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. The person who scans you is the person who reports your images and explains what they mean. Nothing is sent anywhere to be read.
AAA Screening​ Private Ultrasound
Who is it for?
The NHS invites men in the year they turn 65, once. These are the men who choose not to wait for that letter, or who let it pass by.
Under 65 With Risks
Smokers and men with family history who do not want to wait for the NHS invitation.
Missed NHS Screening
The invitation comes once. If you declined or missed it, this closes the gap.
Current & Ex-Smokers
Smoking is the strongest risk factor after age. These men benefit most.
Family History
A parent or sibling with an aneurysm significantly raises your own risk.
High Blood Pressure
Raised blood pressure and cholesterol both weaken the artery wall over time.
Peace of Mind
A normal result is genuinely reassuring, and one scan is usually all you need.
AAA Screening Ultrasound Great Yarmouth
What To Expect
One of the simplest scans we offer: a few minutes of measurement, a clear result, and an explanation of exactly what it means before you leave.
Duration
Around 10 - 15 minutes of scanning. Allow up to 30 minutes at the clinic, including time to talk through your result on the day.
Preparation
Do not eat for four hours before your appointment, as an empty stomach reduces the bowel gas that sits in front of the aorta. Still water is fine and regular medication should be taken as normal. If you cannot fast for medical reasons, tell us when you book and we'll adapt.
What the experience is like
You will lie on your back with your abdomen exposed. Warm gel is applied and the probe is moved down the centre of your abdomen, following the line of the aorta, with light pressure and the occasional held breath. It is comfortable throughout, and your measurement is explained before you leave.
AAA Screening​
What to expect
Prices From £175 - £250
One price covering the scan, the sonographer's time and your written report. No consultation fee and nothing added on afterwards. If we recommend looking at another area on the day, we will tell you the cost before we do it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For most men the NHS invitation is the right route and we would never suggest otherwise. The men who choose to scan earlier are usually those with risk factors, particularly smoking or family history, who do not want to wait years for an answer that takes fifteen minutes to get. Aneurysms grow slowly, so finding one early widens every option.
It depends entirely on the size, and the sonographer will explain your measurement on the day. Small aneurysms need nothing more than a repeat scan at intervals to check they are not growing, and most never need treatment. Larger ones are referred to a vascular team, and your written report gives your GP everything needed to arrange that. Finding an aneurysm at screening is a good outcome, because it is the unknown ones that cause emergencies.
Very. Ultrasound is the standard test used by the NHS screening programme itself, and measurement of the aorta is one of the things it does best.
For most men a single normal scan at screening age is enough, which is exactly how the NHS programme works. If your aorta is normal but towards the upper end of normal, or you have strong risk factors, the sonographer may suggest a repeat in a few years and will say so in your report.
No, please do not wait for an appointment. Sudden severe abdominal or back pain, particularly with faintness, needs emergency assessment. Call 999 or go to A&E. This scan is a screening test for people who feel well.