Science Letters

Asymptomatic Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery in a Five Year Old Girl: An Incidental Finding

Asfia Banu Pasha, Xiao-Qing Chen*, Guo-Ping Zhou*

Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Abstract

An aberrant right subclavian artery may, on one hand, remain asymptomatic, causing no harm to the patient; on the other hand, it may lead to symptoms like dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), recurrent respiratory tract infections, hoarseness of voice, or stridor. An asymptomatic aberrant subclavian artery could be left without any particular treatment, but any symptomatic case should be attended immediately in order to prevent the condition from progressing in severity. A case of a five year old female child with complaints of cough with expectoration and fever was diagnosed to have bronchopneumonia. The patient was admitted and treated with intravenous antibiotics. The chest x-ray showed a small and median heart with the apex not clearly visualized. For further evaluation, an echocardiography and a computerized tomography of the chest was performed, which showed the presence of an aberrant right subclavian artery and a thinner right bronchial lumen. The patient did not have symptoms specific for the aberrant right subclavian artery like dysphagia, stridor, hoarseness of voice, apnea or cyanosis. The patient was continued with the treatment for bronchopneumonia, which was resolved. As the patient was asymptomatic, she was discharged and was advised to follow up in case any symptoms appear.

A R T I C L E I N F O

Received

August 15, 2017

Accepted

October 14, 2017

Published

December 25, 2017

*Corresponding Author

1 Xiao-Qing Chen

E-mail

chenxq2002@foxmail.com

2 Guo-Ping Zhou

E-mail

guopzhou@126.com

Keywords

CT angiography

Aberrant right subclavian artery

Incidental finding