Ulcerlike lesions of the aorta: imaging features and natural history

To document the natural history of ulcerlike aortic lesions and determine whether any computed tomographic (CT) features predict outcome.

CT scans from 1994 to 1998 that depicted an ulcerlike aortic lesion were retrospectively evaluated. Features evaluated included lesion and aortic size and intramural hematoma. Initial CT findings were correlated with clinical data and subsequent CT findings.

There were 56 lesions in 38 patients. Follow-up (mean, 18.4 months) CT scans were available for 33 lesions. Stability of the lesion and adjacent aorta was noted in 21 lesions. Two lesions were unchanged, although associated intramural hematoma regressed over 1-2 months. Ten lesions showed mild to moderate increase in aortic diameter (mean follow-up, 19.8 months) either with (seven lesions) or without (one lesion) increase in size of the lesion or with incorporation of the lesion into the aortic wall contour (two lesions). Of all 56 lesions, 37 were clinically stable, two were associated with recurrent chest and/or back pain, eight underwent surgical resection or stent placement, and two were in patients who died. Seven lesions were in patients lost to follow-up. No initial CT feature was predictive of CT outcome, although lack of pleural effusion correlated with clinical stability.

Most ulcerlike aortic lesions are asymptomatic and do not enlarge. About one-third of lesions progress, generally resulting in mild interval aortic enlargement.