Routine screening of young athletes for aneurysm: CON.

The death of a young athlete is a particularly devastating moment in any society because these individuals represent our strengths and physical prowess as human beings. For this reason, the concept of preparticipation screening has captured attention. A routine screening program applied nonselectively to a particular population in the hopes of reducing morbidity and mortality from a disease must meet certain criteria to be useful. This article examines the scope of the problem from the perspective of acute aortic syndrome and aortic death; and reviews ways, if any, to systematically screen the population to help eradicate this wanton killer of gifted young athletes.