Overview of common errors and pitfalls to avoid in the acquisition and interpretation of ultrasound imaging of the abdominal aorta

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) occur when the aorta diameter is >3 cm (30 mm). Ruptured AAA has a high mortality rate. Ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice to screen for this vascular disease. There are many common errors and pitfalls in the acquisition and interpretation of ultrasound imaging of the abdominal aorta, such as measurement errors and variations in technique, misdiagnosis errors, difficulty with visualization of the aorta and a wide range of sonographer experience. We review the common errors and pitfalls to recognize and avoid in ultrasound imaging of the abdominal aorta.