title: Stent-graft treatment of penetrating thoracic aortic ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of stent-graft placement for the treatment of penetrating thoracic aortic ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients (7 men; mean age 73.8 years, range 69-79) were treated for penetrating thoracic aortic ulcers using Talent or Excluder stent-grafts. Preoperative examinations included computed tomographic angiography (CTA), transesophageal echography, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Follow-up included predischarge multimodal imaging and periodic CTA scans after discharge. Endoleaks, aortic diameter changes, and clinical complications were tracked.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technical success was achieved in 100%, but 1 major neurological complication led to death 3 months after the procedure. Radiological follow-up detected 4 early, endoleaks (3 type I and a type II), all of which spontaneously regressed, and 1 secondary type II endoleak. The mean aortic diameter decreased by 22% over a mean 9-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aortic ulcers are potentially lethal lesions. Considering its low morbidity and mortality, endovascular repair could widen the treatment options for these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, University Hospital of Rangueil, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Otal
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chabbert
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chemla
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soula
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meites
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Joffre
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rousseau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*