Marjeta Tanka; Anila Kristo; Nikollaq Leka & Artan Kristo

Aberrant right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) is a rare embryological abnormality but the most common among aortic arch vascular anomalies. It represents an anatomical variant of right subclavian artery originating as the last branch of aortic arch, passing then retroesophageal to the normal position. It is usually asymptomatic and is found mostly incidentally during imaging examinations. Symptoms are produced when the aberrant artery compresses the nearby structures and the most frequent symptoms are dysphagia and dyspnea. It may be associated with other vascular or heart abnormalities. We are presenting a series of case reports which presented an aberrant right subclavian artery alone or associated with other vascular abnormalities, diagnosed incidentally in adult patients while performing CT examinations for other reasons. Through a literature review we aim to discuss the clinical implications of this vascular anomaly, to point out the importance of being aware of it especially in patients with dysphagia or dyspnea or in patients who undergo operations in the thorax and neck or vascular surgery and endovascular procedures involving the aortic arch and its branches.

KEY WORDS: Arteria lusoria; Morphology; Clinical; Surgical; Implications.

TANKA, M.; KRISTO, A.; LEKA, N. & KRISTO, A. Aberrant right subclavian artery. A series of case reports and discussion of morphology and its clinical and surgical implications. Int. J. Morphol., 40(4):1123-1127, 2022.