Minithoracotomy oesophagectomy for oesophageal carcinoma with aberrant right subclavian artery: a rare case of dysphagia

Abstract

BackgroundAberrant R/subclavian artery is a rare congenital anomaly involving aortic arch. Oesophageal carcinoma with associated aberrant R/subclavian artery is very rare and only few cases has been reported in literature. If unrecognized and injured during oesophageal surgery, it can lead to disastrous complications. When associated with oesophageal carcinoma, it can cause diagnostic confusion as the symptoms are similar.Case presentationA 60 year old previously healthy female presented with intermittent dysphagia, odynophagia and loss of weight of 3 months duration. She was found to have a oeophageal carcinoma with incidentally co-existing aberrant R/subclavian artery.ConclusionAlthough rare this entity should be considered as a differential diagnosis in a patient with dysphagia. In addition, pre-operative identification is important to prevent intra operative vascular complications. The diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition is discussed in this article.

Semi-Prone Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy for Esophageal Carcinoma with Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery and Non-Recurrent Inferior Laryngeal Nerve: A Case Report

“…These vessels then descend into the thoracic cavity. When the right fourth arch disappears in early embryonic development, however, the RSA is formed from the right dorsal aorta and seventh intersegmental artery, and the RSA becomes the fourth branch of the aortic arch [1]. In such a case, because the resulting anatomy does not involve the right laryngeal nerve, the nerve branches from the vagal nerve trunk in the neck and becomes the NRILN [2,3].…”