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Updated: Feb 13, 2026
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Transaxillary First Rib Resection for Treatment of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Published on: September 13, 2020
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Diagnosing Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Current Approaches and Future Directions
Sebastian Povlsen1, Bo Povlsen2
1King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK. seb.povlsen@gmail.com.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 21, 2018
Summary
Diagnosing thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is complex due to varied symptoms and many potential causes. This review clarifies current diagnostic approaches for neurogenic, venous, and arterial TOS, highlighting history, examination, and investigations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Diagnostics
- Vascular Surgery
- Neurology
Background:
- Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) diagnosis is challenging, with diverse presentations across neurogenic, venous, and arterial subtypes.
- Numerous differential diagnoses, including neuropathies and shoulder/cervical spine issues, complicate TOS identification.
- Current diagnostic investigations for TOS vary in importance and are highly dependent on clinical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the current diagnostic approach for suspected thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).
- To review the importance of history taking, clinical examination, and diagnostic investigations for all TOS subtypes.
- To highlight recent developments and future directions in TOS diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on TOS diagnosis.
- Emphasis on the role of patient history and physical examination.
- Discussion of the utility and limitations of various diagnostic investigations.
Main Results:
- Accurate TOS diagnosis relies heavily on thorough patient history and clinical examination.
- Diagnostic investigations support clinical suspicion and guide management but their role is evolving.
- Understanding variations within neurogenic, venous, and arterial TOS is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive diagnostic strategy integrating clinical findings and investigations is essential for TOS.
- Future advancements in diagnostics may enable precise patient stratification and personalized treatment.
- Continued research is needed to refine diagnostic tools for thoracic outlet syndrome.
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