The Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery as Incidental Finding and Associated to Dysphagia. A series of Cases and Review of the Literature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59667//sjoranm.v31i1.14Keywords:
Arteria lusoria, Computed Tomography, Disphagia, Incidental, Surgical, ImplicationsAbstract
The Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), also known as the "arteria lusoria," is a distinctive congenital anomaly of the aortic arch. Its estimated prevalence in the general population ranges from 0.16% to 4.4%, with a higher incidence in women. Many people remain asymptomatic throughout their lives, and the anomaly is usually discovered incidentally during imaging studies. The symptoms typically present as non-progressive mechanical dysphagia, primarily with solid foods, and usually appear around the fifth decade of life. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is an invaluable tool for identifying the anomalous origin, its retroesophageal course, and the degree of esophageal compression. In addition to anatomical imaging studies, functional esophageal studies are gaining recognition for their role in evaluating dysphagia and distinguishing between true pathological compression and incidental findings. We present a series of four clinical cases of an anomalous right subclavian artery, either alone or associated with dysphagia, incidentally diagnosed in adult patients by CT. Our objective is to perform a thorough literature review to thoroughly analyze the implications and significance of this vascular anomaly, with a focus on its relevance in cases of dysphagia or dyspnea and its application to patients scheduled for surgical procedures in the chest and neck regions.
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