An unusual case of asymmetrical combined variations of the subclavian and axillary artery with clinical significance

Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2019;78(4):883-887. doi: 10.5603/FM.a2019.0020. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Abstract

In a Greek Caucasian male cadaver, a combination of the following arterial variations were observed: an aberrant right subclavian artery originating as a last branch of the aortic arch and coursed posterior to the oesophagus, a right non-recurrent laryngeal nerve, an atypical origin of the left suprascapular artery from the axillary artery, an unusual emersion of the lateral thoracic artery from the subscapular artery and a separate origin of the left thoracodorsal artery from the axillary artery. According to the available literature the corresponding incidences of the referred variants are: 0.7% for the aberrant right subclavian artery, 1.6-3.8% for the origin of the suprascapular artery from the axillary artery, 3% for the origin of the left thoracodorsal artery from the axillary artery and 30% for the origin of the lateral thoracic artery from the subscapular artery. Such unusual coexistence of arterial variations may developmentally be explained and has important clinical significance.

Keywords: aberrant right subclavian artery; lateral thoracic artery; non-recurrent laryngeal nerve; oesophagus; subscapular artery; suprascapular artery; thoracodorsal artery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Axillary Artery / abnormalities*
  • Axillary Artery / pathology
  • Cardiovascular Abnormalities / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Subclavian Artery / abnormalities*
  • Subclavian Artery / pathology

Supplementary concepts

  • Aberrant subclavian artery