Which symptom is commonly associated with an abdominal aortic aneurysm?

• A. Tearing back pain
• B. Pulsating abdominal mass
• C. Shortness of breath
• D. Nausea

Answer: (B)

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are often taught to present with a pulsatile mass in the abdomen when the aneurysm is large enough to feel. This occurs because the dilated aorta can be felt as a rhythmic, pulsing fullness in the midline of the abdomen, typically between the navel and the breastbone. While many AAAs don’t cause symptoms, this pulsatile abdominal mass is a classic physical exam sign you might encounter and it directly reflects the presence of an enlarged, outward-flowing vessel.

Tearing back pain suggests aortic dissection rather than a straightforward aneurysm, and shortness of breath or nausea aren’t characteristic signs of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Because of that, the pulsating abdominal mass is the best match among the options.