Development of a Thrombus Mimic in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) represent a significant disease in the western world as rupture of AAA is currently the 15th leading cause of death in the United States [1,2]. The rate of incidence of this disease is also thought to be increasing given the aging population. While AAA rupture is attributed to the gradual weakening of the wall, the mechanisms of aneurysm initiation, growth, and development remain relatively unclear. The role of biomechanics in the diagnosis and prevention of AAA rupture has been reported [3].