Avital Y. O’Glasser, MD, FACP; Kresimira M. Milas, MD, FACS
A 67-year-old woman presented with primary hyperparathyroidism. She self-reported a history of asthma with long-standing exertional dyspnea. On exam, lungs were clear to auscultation with a normal expiratory phase.
Chest x-ray demonstrated no airway thickening or hyperinflation but instead evidence of an aberrant right subclavian artery with mild compression of the posterior trachea (Figure 1). Because of equivocal adenoma identification on ultrasound and Sestamibi scan, she underwent neck CT. This revealed a large caliber contribution to the right subclavian artery arising from the distal aortic arch and following a retroesophageal aberrant course, forming a ring surrounding the trachea and esophagus (Figure 2).
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References:
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Author Bios:
Avital Y. O’Glasser, MD, FACP - Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University
Kresimira M. Milas, MD, FACS- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University