Subclavian artery aneurysm due to costoclavicular compression

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Neurology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Proximal arm innervation issues commonly cause hand symptoms.
• Proximal vascular abnormalities are infrequently identified as a cause of these symptoms.

Observation:

• This case report details a rare instance of hand symptoms stemming from a vascular abnormality.
• The patient presented with a post-stenotic aneurysm of the subclavian artery.

Findings:

• The subclavian artery aneurysm was attributed to an abnormal first rib.
• Crucially, the absence of a cervical rib or scalene bands was noted, differentiating it from typical thoracic outlet syndrome presentations.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering vascular causes for hand symptoms, even without typical thoracic outlet syndrome indicators.
• It highlights the subclavian artery aneurysm as a potential, albeit rare, etiology in patients with proximal arm innervation complaints.