Buckling of the distal innominate artery simulating a nodular lung mass

A 68-year-old woman with long-standing hypertension was referred to us. Her plain roentgenogram and tomogram of the chest revealed a nodular mass seen within the right apical lung field. Angiography and computed tomography revealed that this mass, possibly simulating an intrapulmonary mass lesion, was actually due to arteriosclerotic buckling of the distal segment of the innominate artery. This made a posterior-downward protrusion into the lung from the soft tissue above the right lung apex.