title: Penetrating ulcer of the ascending aorta without rupture.
abstract: Penetrating ulcer of the ascending aorta is a very rare pathological entity with known potential for progression towards intramural hematoma or dissection. Intraoperative diagnosis of an asymptomatic ulcer of the ascending aorta was carried in a 60-year-old male with rheumatic valve disease. The tubular portion of the aorta was slightly dilated (45 mm) and the aortic valve was tricuspid. A supracoronary replacement of the ascending aorta was performed with a Dacron tube. Pathological analysis of the operative sample showed a considerable thinning of the aortic wall with a complete lack of elastic fibers at the level of the penetrating ulcer surrounded by a slightly dystrophic ascending aorta free from calcification and atheroma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Institute, Hôpital de la Salpétrière, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nadjib
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hammoudi
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorfmuller
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corvol
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Acar
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000379:methods; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates