title: Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the aorta: a continuing debate.
abstract: Aortic penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU) is a relatively common incidental finding on thoracic computed tomography (CT) examinations. This is likely to relate to the steady increase in the number of CT examinations performed and also due, in part, to the increasing age of the general population. There is as yet no consensus on the management of incidental PAUs in asymptomatic patients. This article aims to review the literature and discuss the natural history, prognosis, and management of incidental PAU.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Radiology Department, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patatas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Ettles
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014456:Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*