Bilateral cervical ribs causing cerebellar stroke and arterial thoracic outlet syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Stroke is an exceedingly rare presentation of arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (aTOS). This report describes a case of cerebellar stroke secondary to aTOS and reviews the literature. A 56-year-old woman with no previous history of stroke or arm ischemia presented with vertigo. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a left cerebellar ischemic stroke. She subsequently developed ischemia of her left arm, which was treated by a thromboembolectomy. CT angiography revealed bilateral cervical ribs along with bilateral subclavian artery aneurysms. Staged resection of the cervical ribs and reconstruction of the subclavian arteries were performed. Symptomatic arterial thoracic outlet syndrome most commonly presents as arm ischemia because of embolization of intramural clot from a subclavian artery aneurysm or because of thrombosis of the subclavian artery aneurysm itself. In rare cases, the clot can propagate retrograde, resulting in stroke. In young patients presenting with ischemic stroke, arterial thoracic outlet syndrome should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis.