Smilen Kuyumdzhiev1, Michael Lewis Wall1, Radu Rogoveanu1, Dominic Power2, Rajiv Vohra3. 1. Department of Vascular Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK. 2. Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK. 3. Department of Vascular Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: rajiv@vohra.org.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Compression of the brachial plexus causing neurogenic symptoms is involved in most cases referred to vascular surgeons for consideration of treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). The causative factor of the compression can be difficult to diagnose with multiple pathologies implicated. METHODS: We present 2 rare cases of supraclavicular lipomata causing compression of the neurovascular structures in the thoracic outlet. The only 6 other cases of brachial plexus lipomata were described to our knowledge in the literature worldwide. RESULTS: We highlight that there are a small number of neurogenic TOS cases where the causative pathology can be successfully managed by surgery with expectation of a good recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons operating on these lesions can expect good symptom resolution for their patients.
BACKGROUND: Compression of the brachial plexus causing neurogenic symptoms is involved in most cases referred to vascular surgeons for consideration of treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). The causative factor of the compression can be difficult to diagnose with multiple pathologies implicated. METHODS: We present 2 rare cases of supraclavicular lipomata causing compression of the neurovascular structures in the thoracic outlet. The only 6 other cases of brachial plexus lipomata were described to our knowledge in the literature worldwide. RESULTS: We highlight that there are a small number of neurogenic TOS cases where the causative pathology can be successfully managed by surgery with expectation of a good recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons operating on these lesions can expect good symptom resolution for their patients.