Thoracic vs abdominal

[CoyoteSpeaks0715]

Is there anyway a thoracic aneurysm could be missed during an ultrasound for AAA?

[CoyoteSpeaks0715]

I have a copy of the radiologist report, aside from minimal Atelectasis of the base of my right lung, aside from that everything came back normal.

See I have this visible heartbeat all of a sudden. It's not normal, it developed two months after all of this started and it's rhythmic and constant. 24/7 i can literally see something pulsing/bulging out of my epigastric region.   When I exercise it gets way more intense and it literally feels and looks like my heart is going to explode.

I have had an ultrasound done as well, but they were only looking for an AAA. Also worth noting is that when I lay down (like I did for the ultrasound) you can't see the spot.    

This is going to sound stupid but hear me out. None of my doctors know what they're looking at. All but one of them have followed the same pattern, they look at it and say
"I think that's normal."
I then tell them how it's absolutely NOT normal and developed two months into the 6 months that I have been going through this **** and they then say
"Yeah, I've never seen that before."
which has led to me asking them if they've never seen it before why are they telling me it's normal?  If you lift your shirt right now can you see your heart popping out of your chest.

Anyway I'm thinking about getting my heart worked up and poking the area with a needle.  I'm at the point where the only way they're going to take this seriously is if it's something serious.  I want my life back.

[skydnsr]

Wait, chest x-ray with contrast?  Did they put the contrast medium in your vein, or was it something that you drank?  If the contrast medium went to your aorta, that should let the docs get a pretty good idea of the size of it.  Sorry, I've just never had that test, so I don't know what structures the contrast medium is designed to enhance. But my advice stands that it would be a good idea to get the radiologist's report.

[skydnsr]

Most x-rays are read by a radiologist, even if they are also "read" by the doctor who ordered the x-ray.  I guess the exception to that would be if your pulmonologist took the x-ray at his office and does not have a policy of sending the pics out for a second reading. The radiologist's report is generally more thorough.  You could get the radiologist's report, if there is one, and read that.  If there is any mention in the radiologist's report of aortic enlargement, dilation, or ectasia, there's your answer.  That would mean there's something that's big enough to stand out on a simple chest x-ray.  If the chest x-ray has not been read by a radiologist or if the radiologist's report does not mention anything of the sort, then I think you're back to square one.  Under those circumstances, you don't really know any more than you did to start with, because a chest x-ray is not the definitive test to rule out an aortic aneursym.

[CoyoteSpeaks0715]

I've also had a chest xray with contrast recently, but it was looked at by a pulmonologist, not a cardiologist, any luck there?
   I heard that you would need a CT without contrast, but i might have misunderstood.

[CoyoteSpeaks0715]

I've also had a chest xray with contrast recently, but it was looked at by a pulmonologist, not a cardiologist, any luck there?
   I heard that you would need a CT without contrast, but i might have misunderstood.

[skydnsr]

The usual test for thoracic aneurysms is a CT scan.  Sometimes MRI is chosen, especially in cases that are expected to require repeated monitoring, in order to minimize exposure to ionizing radiation.  Some thoracic aneurysms can be seen on a conventional chest x-ray, but that's not the "gold standard" test by any means.  It's just that a large thoracic aortic aneurysm can often be seen on a chest x-ray, and then usually a CT scan will be ordered for a more detailed image.