Retroesophageal Right Subclavian Artery

Neelesh Kanaskar,P Vatsalaswamy,Preeti Sonje,Vaishali Paranjape

doi:10.1155/2014/934825

Abstract

During routine dissection of head and neck region in a 65-year-old female cadaver variation in the origin of right subclavian artery was found. The right subclavian artery originated as a direct branch of arch of aorta distal to the origin of left subclavian artery and it was found passing behind esophagus (retroesophageal) and ascending upwards to the right side while the left subclavian artery originated normally from arch of aorta distal to the origin of left common carotid artery. Anomalous variations in the origin and course of arteries have serious implications in angiographic and surgical procedures; hence it is of great importance to be aware of such possibilities of variations.

Highlights

Subclavian artery is the artery of the upper limb, but it supplies a considerable part of the thoracic wall, neck, and brain through its branches.On the left side it arises from arch of aorta and ascends on the pleura to enter the neck behind the left sternoclavicular joint
It arises from the brachiocephalic artery behind the sternoclavicular joint
Sometimes when the right subclavian artery is the last aortic branch, it passes between trachea and oesophagus and can cause dysphagia, a condition known as dysphagia lusoria

Summary

Introduction

Subclavian artery is the artery of the upper limb, but it supplies a considerable part of the thoracic wall, neck, and brain through its branches. It arises from the brachiocephalic artery behind the sternoclavicular joint On each side it arches laterally across the anterior surface of cervical pleura onto the first rib, posterior to scalenus anterior. It becomes axillary artery at the outer border of first rib. Sometimes when the right subclavian artery is the last aortic branch, it passes between trachea and oesophagus and can cause dysphagia, a condition known as dysphagia lusoria. It may perforate scalenus anterior and very rarely may pass anterior to it. The left subclavian artery is occasionally combined at its origin with the left common carotid artery [2]

Case Report

Discussion

Findings

Internal carotid artery