Penetrating Aortic Ulcers as a Cause of Chest Pain in Emergency Room: Presentation of Case and Review of the Literature Ulcera Aórtica Penetrante como Causa de Dolor Torácica en Urgencias: Presenta- ción de Caso y Revisión de la Literatura

SUMMARY Penetrating aortic ulcer describes the condition in which an ulceration of an atherosclerotic plaque penetrates the internal and medial elastic laminas of the aorta. This lesion can be associated or complicated with the formation of an intramural hematoma, dissection, aneurysmatic dilatation, pseudo aneurysm or aortic rupture. We report the case of a 58 year old male who entered the emergency department with dispnoea, syncope and acute chest pain, with final diagnosis of penetrating aortic ulcer. Descriptors: Aorta, Thoracic/pathology; Aorta,Thoracic/surgery; Arteriosclerosis/surgery; Ulcer/surgery