Penetrating ulceration of the infrarenal aorta: case reports of an embolic and an asymptomatic lesion

Ann Vasc Surg. 2001 Mar;15(2):255-9. doi: 10.1007/s100160010062. Epub 2001 Mar 1.

Abstract

Penetrating aortic ulceration is uncommon in the infrarenal aorta. We describe a patient with a penetrating infrarenal aortic ulcer manifesting as blue toe syndrome, and a second patient with a similar lesion identified as an incidental finding. These two patients were treated for penetrating infrarenal aortic ulceration within the past 9 months at two university-affiliated hospitals, a regional Veterans Administration Medical Center, and a County Medical Center. Both lesions demonstrated aneurysm changes with varying degrees of mural thrombus. The lesion filled with fresh thrombus proved labile, with embolization manifesting as blue toe syndrome. We support the aggressive treatment of aneurysmal penetrating aortic ulcer with aortic graft replacement to eliminate the potential for distal embolization and to obviate the risk of rupture and death.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aneurysm, False / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aneurysm, False / surgery
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / surgery
  • Aortic Rupture / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aortic Rupture / surgery
  • Aortography
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
  • Blue Toe Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Blue Toe Syndrome / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Embolism / diagnostic imaging*
  • Embolism / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ulcer / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ulcer / surgery