Anomalies associated with aberrant right subclavian arteries: A case report

Abstract

Anomalies in the aortic arch are a consequence of disorders in the development of the double primitive aortic arch system. We report a case of variation in the great vessels of the aortic arch, with an aberrant right subclavian artery being observed during a routine dissection. This variation was associated with a tight trachea in its distal end and a right lung devoid of the horizontal fissure, with a lack of tissue in the anterior segment of the superior lobe and in the lateral and medial segments of the middle lobe. The two common carotid arteries arose from a common trunk and the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was absent. On the basis of the literature, we review the incidence of the anatomical variation, its embryological explanation, and its clinical consequences.