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[Subclavian steal phenomenon associated with hypervascular thyroid tumor]
Ichiro Kawahara1, Morito Nakamoto, Yoshitaka Matsuo
1Department of Neurosurgery, Nagasaki Prefecture Shimabara Hospital, Japan.
No Shinkei Geka. Neurological Surgery
|June 5, 2010
Summary
Subclavian steal syndrome (SSS) can be caused by a rare hypervascular thyroid nodule. This case highlights a potential link between thyroid tumors and SSS, even when asymptomatic.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Neurology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Subclavian steal syndrome (SSS) involves retrograde flow in the subclavian artery, often due to atherosclerosis.
- Symptoms arise from vertebrobasilar insufficiency or upper extremity ischemia.
- Most cases are asymptomatic (subclavian steal phenomenon, SSP).
Observation:
- A rare case of a hypervascular thyroid nodule presenting with features of SSP is described.
- The patient experienced acute cerebral infarction due to middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis.
- The SSS was asymptomatic, with blood pressure laterality in the upper limbs.
Findings:
- The thyroid tumor was radiologically and clinically assessed as benign.
- Atherosclerosis is the common cause of SSS, but other causes include Takayasu arteritis and trauma.
- This case presents a unique association between a thyroid nodule and SSP.
Implications:
- This case suggests a potential, albeit rare, link between hypervascular thyroid nodules and SSS.
- Symptomatic SSS in such cases might warrant thyroid tumor removal.
- Further research is needed to understand this association and its clinical significance.
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