Interrupted aortic arch (type A1)

Case contributed by David Cuevas
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Dyspnea, cyanosis, low weight.

Patient Data

Age: 2 months

There is discontinuity of the aortic arch distal to the take-off of the left subclavian artery. The descending aorta emanates from the main pulmonary artery (blue) via a patent ductus arteriosus.  The innominate artery, including the right subclavian and common carotid arteries, left common carotid and left subclavian arteries, branch normally without evidence of stenosis or aberrant configuration.

CT findings were confirmed by angiography.

Case Discussion

Type A interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is the second most common type of IAA (~42% of all cases) of Celoria-Patton classification after type B.

Type A arch is defined as arch interruption distal to the left subclavian artery. The subclavian arteries of this patient are normal in configuration, without aberrant origin; hence, this may be further subdivided to subtype 1 (normal subclavian artery).

Companion case: Celoria-Patton classification of interrupted aortic arch

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