title: [Intramural haematoma and penetrating aortic ulcer--outcome and treatment modalities: report of four cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intramural haematoma (IMH) and penetrating aortic ulcers (PAU) are the frequent cause of acute aortic syndrome that is disclosed with a rising frequency due to the development of new diagnostic methods. Different symptoms contribute to clinical misdiagnosis, while changeable locations and unpersuasive diameter can lead the radiologists to underestimate such changes. The outcome of PAU and IMH differs, and for the time being there are no data on prognostic factors. The diversity of symptoms and disease course is presented in four cases with different manifestations, treatment and outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with IMH were treated conservatively due to the process extensiveness and its morphology. One patient had a complete restitution, while the other had progression of the disease. Other two patients with PAU were treated by surgery (stent graft implantation) according to the morphology and diameter of the aorta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IMH and PAU should be suspected in patients with unclear clinical presentation (back and abdominal pains). Although outcome and complications of these diseases are well known, their incidence has not been fully studied. Endovascular treatment is less invasive and followed by a potentially lower rate of complications. However, usage of this method is justifiable only in patients with associated complications.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Končar
authors.forename: Lazar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davidović
authors.forename: Momčilo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Čolić
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dragaš
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ilić
authors.forename: Nemanja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Menković
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vučković
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalimanovska-Oštrić
authors.forename: Slobodan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cvetković
authors.forename: Dušan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kostić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014456:Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*