The natural history of penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers (PAUs) of the descending thoracic aorta remains unclear. Between January 1996 and June 2000, PAU was diagnosed in 36 patients (16 men ...

We identified 36 patients with a diagnosis of PAU involving the descending thoracic aorta. The diagnosis was ... 6 died of conditions unrelated to the ulcer and 2 of unknown causes.