A case of Takayasu's disease presenting in a young man as a solid abdominal mass is described. The literature is reviewed and classifications of the disease are discussed. Occlusive thromboaortopathy, also known as "pulseless disease" or Takayasu's disease, was first described in 1908 by Takayasu, who observed cataracts and peculiar arteriovenous anastamoses around the optic papillae in a young woman. It is a vasculitic disorder of uncertain etiology occurring mainly in young women and may involve part or most of the aorta, as well as the pulmonary artery. Early features include fever, malaise, weight loss, and a high ESR, and, later on, absent pulses, aneurysms, hypertension, and heart failure may occur. The authors describe an unusual case of Takayasu's disease in a young black South African man.