ARTERIO-ESOPHAGEAL COMMUNICATION FROM A RUPTURED ABERRANT RIGHT SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY ANEURYSM - CT DIAGNOSIS

We report the computed tomography(CT) findings of an arterio-esophagea l communication from an aberrant right subclavian artery aneurysm whic h had eroded into the esophagus. Pathologic correlation is provided. T o our knowledge, this is the first CT demonstration of an aberrant rig ht subclavian aneurysm causing a communication to the esophagus report ed in the literature. Previously, one CT case of a left aberrant subcl avian artery aneurysm that had ruptured into the esophagus, had been d escribed. The characteristic location of the aberrant vessel with aneu rysmal dilatation and the presence of abnormal air identified within t he wall of the aneurysm on CT, helped establish the diagnosis antemort em. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1998.