Aortic arch ulcers present atypically, sometimes with acute chest pain or chest and back pain. However, the presence of similar symptoms is not indicative of an aortic arch ulcer and prompt medical attention is recommended to identify the specific cause.
The presentation of aortic arch ulcers includes symptoms and signs, however both are atypical and may present with chest and back pain or chest pain similar to acute aortic coarctation, and patients are often comorbid with coronary artery disease, stroke, etc., making it impossible to diagnose based on symptoms alone.
The diagnosis is often made with the help of imaging tests, such as angiography, echocardiography, and CT, and is characterized by extensive aortic wall atherosclerosis with ulcers (or niches) protruding into the aortic lumen, and the absence of intimal fragments and coarctation.
The presence of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that an aortic arch ulcer is present, and prompt medical attention is needed to identify the cause of the problem and to develop further treatment strategies.