J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2007 Apr;31(2):257-260.

Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome with Arterial Occlusion: A case report

• Bun HR
• Kim DH
• Hwang MR
• Kim IJ
• Lee JS

Abstract

The diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is sometimes confused by its nonspecific symptoms and various etiologies. Moreover, the paths of involving nerves and arteries are highly diverse. We report a 35 year-old man who had numbness and coldness in his left upper extremity with no improvement to medical therapy. The electrophysiologic studies were normal. Radial artery pulse was absent and the thermography revealed markedly reduced temperature below the left mid-forearm. The arteriography showed compression of the left subclavian artery between the clavicle and the 1st rib with aneurysmal change proximal to the compression. Occlusion of the left brachial artery and collateral arteries were also observed. Under the diagnosis of vascular TOS, 1st rib resection was performed and his symptoms were relieved. Vascular TOS may be considered in cases of upper limb paresthesia.

Keyword

Vascular thoracic outlet syndrome; Subclavian artery; Embolism

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aneurysm
Angiography
Arteries
Brachial Artery
Clavicle
Diagnosis
Embolism
Humans
Hypesthesia
Paresthesia
Radial Artery
Ribs
Subclavian Artery
Thermography
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome*
Upper Extremity