Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Used to Rapidly Diagnose Both Renal Colic and a Symptomatic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in an Elderly Man with Left Flank Pain

• DOI: 10.24908/pocusj.v10i01.18461
• Publication Date: 2025-05-06T13:08:51Z
• Authors: Rie Seu; Ariella Gartenberg; Rachel Mirsky; Aamir Bandagi; Nicole Leonard-Shiu; Reema Panjwani; Nora McNulty; Trevor Dixon; Michelle Montenegro; Michael Halperin
• Keywords: Flank pain; Renal Colic; Presentation (obstetrics); Flank; Abdominal ultrasound

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) possess significant patient morbidity and mortality, but diagnosis can be missed or delayed given variable presenting symptoms. Renal colic is a potential “red herring” in cases of symptomatic AAA. This case involves an atypical presentation flank pain likely due to both nephrolithiasis Prompt recognition AAAs by the emergency department (ED) critical prevent misdiagnosis initiate rapid treatment when indicated.