Aortosternal Venous Compression: A Review of Two Cases

Victoria Giglio; Zain Badar; Yasovineeth Bhogadi; Brian Van Adel; Gordon Yip

doi:10.1155/2022/4591024

Aortosternal Venous Compression: A Review of Two Cases

Case Rep Med. 2022 Oct 5:2022:4591024. doi: 10.1155/2022/4591024. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Victoria Giglio¹, Zain Badar², Yasovineeth Bhogadi³, Brian Van Adel⁴, Gordon Yip³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
² Interventional Radiology Department, University of Toronto, Univeristy Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Radiology Department, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Division of Neurology Neurosurgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

Aortosternal venous compression (AVC) is a rare venous compression syndrome that involves brachiocephalic venous compression due to its positioning between the sternum and the aorta. One of the features of AVC involves compression of the left innominate vein with variability in luminal caliber on inspiration and expiration. Imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) examination can aid in initial diagnosis; however, venography can be utilized for confirmatory diagnosis due to its higher specificity during the inspiratory and expiratory phases. Through findings demonstrated during venography, we herein present two cases of confirmed AVC secondary to an aberrant right subclavian artery. Characteristic imaging features in the diagnosis of AVC and its etiology are discussed.

Publication types

Case Reports