LEFT COMMON CAROTID-ARTERY ARISING FROM THE PULMONARY-ARTERY IN A PATIENT WITH DIGEORGE-SYNDROME

A female infant, born at 33 weeks' gestation with tetralogy of Fallot, died of severe perinatal asphyxia 6 hours after birth. Necropsy discl osed two associated vascular anomalies: a right aortic arch with a lef t common carotid artery arising from the pulmonary artery (isolated le ft common carotid artery) and an aberrant left subclavian artery arisi ng from the descending aorta. Agenesis of the thymus and parathyroid g land was also found, suggesting that the child also had DiGeorge syndr ome. Origin of the left common carotid artery from the pulmonary arter y is exceedingly rare. When planning surgical treatment it is importan t to be aware of the possibility of this anomaly occurring in associat ion with congenital heart disease, particularly in the presence of tet ralogy of Fallot, right sided aortic arch, or DiGeorge syndrome.