Variations and Abnormalities of Major Thoracic Vascular Structures

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the variations and abnormalities of major thoracic vascular structures in patients exposed to thoracic examination via computerized tomography with 64 detectors.

Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 2,479 patients who underwent thoracic computed tomography between May 2006 and October 2007 in the Radiation Department at Dicle University's School of Medicine were examined. Of these patients, 1,389 were male and 1,090 were female. No variations or abnormalities were detected in 1,588 of the patients.

Results: In 1,588 out of 2,479 patients (64.1%), no abnormalities or variations were detected. The most frequently detected variations occurred in the brachiocephalic trunk and the sole root point of the carotid artery from the aorta; these variations were detected in 838 (33.8%) patients.

In 74 of the 2,479 patients (3.0%) examined, it was found that the left vertebral artery directly initiated from the arch of the aorta. In addition, in 33 patients, the right brachiocephalic trunk and left major carotid artery initiated from the aorta as a single root.

Conclusion: Via multi-slice CT, it is possible to detect variations and abnormalities of major thoracic vascular structures; therefore, there is no need for extra diagnostic invasive digital subtraction angiography.