macroscopic
Last reviewed 01/2018
The most common site for atherosclerotic aneurysms of the abdominal aorta is a few centimeters distal to the renal arteries. The normal aortic diameter at this level in 65-74 year old men is 2.01 +/- 0.51 cm however aneurysms with diameters of 5-10 cm are not uncommon. The vast majority of these aneurysms are fusiform in shape and confined to the area of aorta between the renal and common iliac arteries however extension to involve one or both iliac vessels is not uncommon.
Thrombosis is a common feature. The thrombus is unusual in that much of it fails to organise (to be replaced by connective tissue) as a result it appears as a laminated, yellow-brown gelatinous mass.