Presentation
Chronic cough for 18 months.
Patient Data
Abnormal oblique extrinsic smooth pressure on the dorsal oesophagus in the region of T4. Findings are suggestive of aberrant right subclavian artery.
Case Discussion
Aberrant right subclavian artery is a rare vascular anomaly, but it is a relatively frequent form of congenital vascular anomalies. It happens when there is abnormal origin of subclavian artery from the arch of the aorta. It usually arises caudal to the origin of the left subclavian and then courses across to the right side usually dorsal to the oesophagus and emerges from the thorax over the first right rib.
Usually it remains clinically silent, but patients may present with unexplained dysphagia or chronic intermittent cough.
Symptomatic forms are most often seen as a retro-oesophageal aberrant subclavian artery arising from a dilated segment of the aorta (diverticulum of Kommerell).
Diagnosis is usually achieved with a barium filled oesophagus which demonstrates oblique indentation in the posterior oesophageal wall at the level of aortic arch. Definitive diagnosis is now usually accomplished by CT or MRI.
Differentials on fluoroscopy:
- Double aortic arch or other vascular anomaly.
- Tumours in the wall or lumen of the oesophagus.
- Mediastinal tumours or adenopathy.
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