Adult‐onset regurgitation in a dog with an aberrant right subclavian artery: a CT angiographic study

Abstract

A two-year-old Border Collie presented with a three-month history of regurgitation. Investigation with plain radiography, digital fluoroscopy, endoscopy and CT angiography (CTA) confirmed the presence of an aberrant right subclavian artery causing dorsal oesophageal compression. In this report, CTA was used to depict the anatomy of an aberrant right subclavian vessel and to highlight the importance of this imaging modality to identify the structures involved in a vascular ring. This report also identifies a patient with a congenital vascular ring anomaly presenting with adult-onset regurgitation, which has been successfully managed with medical treatment.

Computed tomography angiography reveals stenosis and aneurysmal dilation of an aberrant right subclavian artery causing systemic blood pressure misreading in an old Pekinese dog

“…The previous cases showed the typical vascular rings consisting of an aberrant right subclavian artery and the trachea compressing the esophagus from every direction [8, 14]. However, the present case showed that the aberrant artery did not wrap the esophagus immediately after leaving the origin.…”

“…This case did not present a regurgitation unlike previous aberrant right subclavian artery cases with late-onset regurgitation [8, 14]. The previous cases showed the typical vascular rings consisting of an aberrant right subclavian artery and the trachea compressing the esophagus from every direction [8, 14].…”

Imaging Diagnosis—computed Tomographic Angiography Characteristics of Multiple Vascular Anomalies in a Senior Dog With Late‐onset Regurgitation

“…Late‐onset regurgitations associated with vascular ring anomaly, such as the present case, are rare and to date only four cases have been reported . In addition, there have been only one case of late‐onset regurgitation among ten aberrant right subclavian artery cases reported to date. The late‐onset regurgitation was considered to be attributable to dietary changes.…”

“…Vascular ring anomalies can cause regurgitation and sequential aspiration pneumonia, which is a life‐threatening complication, but its clinical relevance is variable depending on the degree of esophageal compression involved . An aberrant right subclavian artery arises from the region distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery, such as in the present case, or from the same location as the left subclavian artery . The aberrant artery runs dorsal to the trachea and esophagus, obliquely, and causes compression of the esophagus with or without clinical regurgitation and aspiration pneumonia .…”

“…Computed tomographic angriography clearly revealed an anatomical structure indicative of aberrant right subclavian artery. To date, aberrant right subclavian artery case reports including 3D CT angiography images only exist for one dog and one cat…”