The vascular component in neurogenic-arterial thoracic outlet syndrome.

The incidence of arterial compression in patients diagnosed with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome is not accurately known. In a consecutive series of 148 patients diagnosed with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, a standard objective method of Doppler ultrasound examination was implemented, with standard manoeuvres for the arm involved. These standards for assessing the incidence of true subclavian artery compression were previously reported. It was found that 75 patients (51%) had definite arterial occlusion. The potential for even venous compression was examined in this type of patient, and 11 patients (8%) were found to have vascular compression of the subclavian vein when performing the manoeuvres. The present study is possibly the first to use a standard objective method to evaluate the vascular component in patients with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.