Right Subclavian Artery Aneurysms with Fibromuscular Dysplasia

Fibromuscular dysplasia of subclavian artery: A case report and mini-review

A case of a 40-year-old male patient with a right subclavian artery aneurysm of fibromuscular dysplasia origin is reported. The patient presented with thoracic outlet-like symptoms and underwent aneurysm resection. Microscopic examination revealed intimal and medial fibroplasia. Additional cases of fibromuscular dysplasia at this rare location are reviewed, indicating a male and right-sided predominance. The most frequent clinicopathological manifestation was an aneurysm, with the histopathological pattern characterized by medial fibroplasia. Treatment modalities included the use of either graft prosthesis or end-to-end anastomosis.

Subclavian Artery: Anatomic Review and Imaging Evaluation of Abnormalities

The subclavian artery is an important structure that may be overlooked at CT of the chest and neck, in part because of its anatomic location at the periphery of the field of view but also because the clinical indication for CT examinations infrequently directs attention specifically to evaluation of the subclavian artery. As with all arteries, the subclavian artery has the potential to be involved in a variety of abnormalities, including pseudoaneurysms, dissections, stenosis or thrombosis, and vasculopathies. In addition, the subclavian artery can be secondarily involved as a collateral pathway because of an abnormality elsewhere. The subclavian artery may also be involved in surgical procedures to supply blood to other sites in the body or as an arterial access site. In these cases, recognizing the postsurgical appearance of the subclavian artery has become increasingly complex because of the use of the artery in an increasing number of procedures. Recognizing expected postoperative changes remains important to avoid mistaking them for abnormalities. The authors describe the imaging appearance of the normal anatomy of the subclavian artery and its anatomic variants, related abnormalities, and important postsurgical considerations. ^©RSNA, 2022.

Claviculectomy for exposure and redo repair of expanding, recurrent right subclavian aneurysm

Subclavian artery aneurysms (SAAs) are rare, and their repair can be technically complex. We have reported the redo repair of a large, expanding, right SAA after primary repair consisting of total aortic arch replacement with bilateral subclavian artery ligation and bypass. The redo repair used claviculectomy to facilitate exposure, ligation of the right deep cervical and internal thoracic arteries from within the aneurysm sac, and revision of the previous axillary artery bypass that had thrombosed owing to the mass effect of the expanding SAA. Claviculectomy can facilitate repair of large SAAs that are poorly suited to more routine exposure approaches, with acceptable risk and functional outcomes.

Successful Balloon-assisted Coil Embolization of Right Subclavian Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report

Objective

Subclavian artery aneurysms are relatively rare, and have been treated by open surgery and/or endovascular treatment using a stent graft. In this article, we report a case of unruptured right subclavian artery aneurysm successfully treated using balloon-assisted coil embolization.

Case Presentation

A 77-year-old man was diagnosed with an asymptomatic unruptured right subclavian artery aneurysm of 8 mm in diameter by follow-up CTA after surgery for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. He also had a history of cerebral infarction and clipping of an unruptured cerebral aneurysm. The subclavian artery aneurysm was treated by balloon-assisted coil embolization because its diameter increased to 17.6 mm in 2 years. Balloon assistance was mainly used to prevent protrusion of the framing coil into the parent artery, and satisfactory framing was achieved. Subsequently, the aneurysm was obliterated using filling and finishing coils. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the follow-up MRI at 18 months after treatment revealed no recanalization of the aneurysm.

Conclusion

Balloon-assisted coil embolization may be an effective treatment for subclavian artery aneurysms, but further long-term follow-up and case accumulation are needed.