Endovascular treatment of painless aortic ulcer detected by transesophageal echocardiography as an incidental finding

Abstract

Penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) is defined as an ulcerating atherosclerotic lesion that disrupts the aortic wall layers, penetrating the internal elastic lamina. The natural history of the disease and the preferred treatment are still debated. We report a case of painless PAU in a 78-year-old man detected by transesophageal echocardiography at the level of proximal descending aorta as an incidental finding. The patient underwent endovascular stent-graft placement without any complications at early and late follow-up.