LEFT AORTIC-ARCH - RIGHT DESCENDING AORTA - RIGHT DUCTUS-ARTERIOSUS (ENCIRCLING AORTIC-ARCH) - A RARE VASCULAR RING MALFORMATION

Abnormalities of the aortic arch which are responsible for tracheobron chial compression are well known. This case demonstrates the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis and suggests that recur rent respiratory symptoms should evoke these abnormalities in infancy. Case report. - The authors report a very rare malformation of the aor tic arch formed by encircling aortic arch, with left aortic arch, righ t descending aorta and right ligamentum arteriosum. It was revealed by airway disorders due to the compression of tracheobronchial axis by t he ligamentum arterosium. Section of the ligamentum permitted suppress ion of obstruction. The diagnosis of these abnormalities is usually es tablished by means of oesophagogram, tracheobronchial endoscopy, angio graphy and MRI. Conclusion. - In this case, MRI gave a better picture than angiography. Sections of the ligamentum arteriosum are sometimes ineffective when compression is due to the aorta itself Aortic uncross ing, a more complex operation, is then necessary. (C) 1998, Elsevier, Paris.