RETROESOPHAGEAL RIGHT SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY: A ROENTGENOLOGICAL PURVIEW AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Abstract

Three major arteries normally originate from the aortic arch. Numerous variations of vessels arising 
from the aortic arch have been reported. One of the common anatomical variations is the right 
subclavian artery originating from the distal segment of the aortic arch. We report a case of a 
retroesophageal right subclavian artery arising from a normally located left aortic arch in an adult
male. Radiologists mainly encounter a retroesophageal right subclavian artery incidentally and are 
usually described as asymptomatic, but several clinical conditions have been associated with this kind 
of occurrence.