Aberrant right subclavian artery

Coronal curved CT reformatted image of the 62 year old male patient presented with cough showing incidentally detected aberrant right subclavian artery arising from the left sided aortic arch (arrow).

Axial curved CT reformatted image of the 62 year old male patient presented with cough showing incidentally detected aberrant right subclavian artery arising from the left sided aortic arch (arrow) causing compression on the esophagus.

Sagittal oblique curved reformatted image better depicts the aberrant artery.

Discussion:

The aberrant artery usually arises just distal to the left subclavian artery and crosses in the posterior part of the mediastinum usually behind the esophagus on its way to the right upper extremity. Such course of this aberrant vessel may cause a vascular ring around the trachea and esophaugus. Dysphagia due to an aberrant right subclavian artery is termed dysphagia lusoria. Palsy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is termed Ortner's syndrome.

The aberrant right subclavian artery frequently arises from a dilated segment of the proximal descending aorta, the so-called Diverticulum of Kommerell.