Why track aortic aneurysm in ClinicalTools
If you have been told you have a dilated aorta or an aneurysm, you already know the routine: a scan every six to twelve months, a number, and a wait until the next one. Reports are written by different radiologists at different facilities and it is surprisingly hard to answer the only question that matters — is it growing, and how fast?
ClinicalTools keeps a measurement series for each aortic segment: aortic root, ascending aorta, arch, descending thoracic, thoracoabdominal, abdominal aorta, infrarenal and suprarenal AAA, and iliac. Every entry records the size in millimetres (displayed in mm or cm), the modality — CT, MRI, transthoracic or transesophageal echo, or ultrasound — and the facility, and the app warns you when a scan was done with a different technique or at a different site from the last one, because measurements are not always comparable.
From the series it calculates the growth rate in millimetres per year, labels it Stable, Slow or Rapid, and shows the size band for the segment. A surveillance section holds your next scan date and management plan, and an emergency screen lists the symptoms that mean you should call for help rather than wait for the next appointment.
Three steps, every time.
Enter each scan
Size, segment, date, modality and facility — straight from the radiology report. Add notes such as the reading radiologist.
See the band and growth
The size band and the annual growth rate update as the series grows, with a warning when technique changes between scans.
Bring the PDF to clinic
Export a chronological report for your vascular surgeon or cardiologist, including the chart and every measurement.
What the Aortic Aneurysm tool does
Measurements by segment
Nine segments from aortic root to iliac, each with its own series, so an ascending dilation and an abdominal aneurysm can be followed separately.
Modality and facility
Record CT, MRI, Echo (TTE), Echo (TEE) or Ultrasound and where the scan was done. A variance flag highlights scans that differ from the previous one.
Growth rate in mm/year
Calculated across the series and labelled Stable (under 1 mm/yr), Slow (1–3 mm/yr) or Rapid (3 mm/yr and above), with the chart showing the surgical threshold line.
Size bands
Small, Moderate, Large or Critical, using separate cut-offs for thoracic and abdominal segments (see table).
Surveillance schedule
Store the next scan date and your management plan — Surveillance, Surgery Considered or Post-repair — alongside typical interval guidance.
Emergency symptoms
A dedicated screen lists the warning signs of dissection or rupture and what to tell emergency services about your diagnosis.
Size bands used by the app
Bands are a way to read a measurement at a glance; decisions about repair depend on segment, growth, symptoms, body size and other factors your surgeon weighs.
| Band | Thoracic (root, ascending, arch, descending) | Abdominal (AAA, iliac) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Under 40 mm | Under 40 mm |
| Moderate | 40 – 44 mm | 40 – 49 mm |
| Large | 45 – 54 mm | 50 – 54 mm |
| Critical | 55 mm and above | 55 mm and above |
Typical surveillance intervals noted in the app: about 3 years at 3.0–3.9 cm, 12 months at 4.0–4.9 cm, 6 months at 5 cm and above — always as set by your clinician.
Source: 2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease
For patients under surveillance, and the people who love them
Ascending aortic dilation found on an echo, a bicuspid valve with a widening root, an abdominal aneurysm picked up on a screening ultrasound — these are conditions you live with for years. Having the whole series in your pocket, in consistent units, with the growth rate already worked out, changes the conversation at every follow-up. It is also invaluable when you move, change insurers or get a second opinion.
Your aortic aneurysm data stays yours.
No account, no login, no server run by us. Data lives on your iPhone or iPad and, if you turn on iCloud sync, in your own end-to-end-encrypted iCloud account. Every export and share is something you start.
Aortic Aneurysm — common questions
Is the aneurysm tracker free?
Yes. Aortic Aneurysm is a free tool in ClinicalTools, including the growth calculation, charts and PDF export.
Can I track more than one segment?
Yes. Each of the nine segments keeps its own measurement series, and the growth rate is shown across all segments as well.
How is the growth rate calculated?
From the first and most recent measurements in the series: the change in millimetres divided by the elapsed time in years. It needs at least two scans.
Why does the app warn about a different modality?
CT, MRI, echo and ultrasound can measure the same aorta slightly differently, and so can different facilities. The flag reminds you — and your doctor — that a small apparent change may be technique rather than growth.
Does it replace my surveillance appointments?
No. It is a record-keeping and communication tool. Scan intervals and treatment decisions belong to your vascular surgeon or cardiologist.