A cervical aortic arch develops from the persistence of which primitive aortic arch?
Embryonic third aortic arch instead of the fourth
Although cervical aortic arch is rare, aneurysms complicate how many percent of cases?
About 20% of cases
Are aneurysm formations more common in male or in female patients with cervical aortic arch?
Aneurysms predominantly occur in female patients
The aorta arises normally from the left ventricle. Left-sided aortic arch and descending aorta are demonstrated. The aorta gives off three branches in the following order: innominate artery (brachiocephalic trunk), left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery.
The segment of the aortic arch between the left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery is elongated and markedly tortuous with its apex positioned cephalad slightly above the level of the medial ends of the clavicles consistent with cervical aortic arch. This segment of the aortic arch also shows multiple saccular aneurysms. The largest saccular aneurysm exhibits wall calcifications.
There is stenosis (coarctation) of the aortic arch after the take-off of the left common carotid artery.
The descending segment of the thoracic aorta is smaller in caliber than usual suggestive of mild hypoplasia.
The right internal thoracic artery is prominent and connects to the right external iliac artery via the superior and inferior epigastric arteries likely serving as a collateral.
The left brachiocephalic vein courses behind the ascending segment of the aorta before it joins the superior vena cava.