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Case Reports
. 2025 May 14;20(8):3729-3732.
doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2025.04.019. eCollection 2025 Aug.

Thoracic aorta aneurysm tracheal compression and anatomical variant of the right subclavian artery: A case report

Francesca Cianfrone  1 , Italo Cantore  1 , Claudio Montuori  2 , Pio Bevilacqua  1 , Francesco Tauro  1 , Raffaele Chiarelli  1 , Roberto Marcello  3 , Paolo Ruscito  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Thoracic aorta aneurysm tracheal compression and anatomical variant of the right subclavian artery: A case report

Francesca Cianfrone et al. Radiol Case Rep. .

Abstract

Tracheo-bronchial compression is a complication of vascular congenital and acquired anomalies, usually associated with double aortic arch, aberrant subclavian artery, pulmonary artery sling, Kommerell's diverticulum, and with aneurysms of the aortic arch and thoracic aorta. In this report we present a case of a 75-year-old male with incidental diagnosis of tracheal compression by a thoracic aorta aneurysm combined with anatomical variant of the right subclavian artery, that came up to our attention because of the onset of a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) caused by a bilobar shaped anterior cerebral artery aneurysm rupture.

Keywords: Aberrant subclavian artery; Thoracic aorta aneurysm; Tracheal compression; Vascular anomalies.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Pretreatment cranial CT scan image. Unenhanced Axial MDCT Scan showing blood-CSF levels in both lateral ventricles which is consistent with emoventricle. Blood-like hyperdensity in right side subharchnoid spaces of the convexity of fronto-temporal-parietal lobes, cisterna magna and third ventricle are consistent with SAH.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Post-treatment cranial CT scan image. Enhanced Axial MDCT Scan showing blood-CSF levels in both lateral ventricles which are consistent with emventricle.
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Volume rendered image of vascular structures. Ruptured aneurysm of anterior communicating artery is clearly visible.
Fig 4
Fig. 4
Sagittal chest CT scan image. Unhenanced MDCT of the thorax oblique view. A retro-tracheal and retro-esophageal aneurysm of the aortic arch is well detected (white arrow).
Fig 5
Fig. 5
Axial chest CT scan image. CE-MDCT of the thorax axial view. A huge thoracic aorta aneurysm abutting the esophagus and trachea is visible. Note the tracheal cannula indwell.
Fig 6
Fig. 6
Fiberoptic evaluation that showed a protruding mass at the posterior wall of the trachea with partial occlusion of the portion of the lumen.
Fig 7
Fig. 7
Fiberoptic evaluation corresponding to the distal part of the tracheostomy cannula, with sufficient respiratory space revealed.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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