From 1985 to 1988, 205 patients were admitted to the authors' department for abdominal aortic aneurysm; 152 of them underwent preoperative conven tional catheter angiography (CA). These arteriograms were evaluated retrospec tively. Mean inner aneurysm diameter was 7.72 cm, which correlated well with sonographic findings. In 16.4% the diameter exceeded 10 cm. Aneurysms of the common iliac were present in 59.9%. In 21.0% we found stenoses of the common iliac vessels and in 16.4% stenoses of the external iliac arteries. Renal artery stenosis of more than 50% was diagnosed in 15.8% . In 6.6% accessory renal vessels were visualized, which had to be spared during aneurysm repair. In 9.2 % the inferior mesenteric artery was occluded, whereas all other visceral vessels were patent without pathologic lesions. Although newer noninvasive techniques are available today for vascular imaging, CA still is the "golden standard" for evaluating abdominal aortic aneurysms. It is the only method providing all the information a vascular surgeon needs for optimal aneurysm repair.
