True aneurysms of otherwise normal subclavian arteries are uncommon periphe
ral vascular anomalies. Most patients with subclavian artery aneurysms are
symptomatic by presenting neurologic signs. We report a young woman who had
an asymptomatic true aneurysm of the right subclavian artery assumed to be
of congenital origin. This case is unique in that the aneurysm was in the
extremely rare :anatomic location of the right supraclavicular fossa :betwe
en the origins of the right subclavian artery and the vertebral artery. Ane
urysms of the right subclavian artery may represent a potential pitfall in
conventional gray-scale ultrasound of the neck particularly the supraclavic
ular fossa. Differential diagnosis includes cervical cyst, pharyngo-esophag
eal diverticulum, vascular anomalies, struma, enlarged lymph node, as well
benign or malignant neoplasms. Color duplex ultrasound should be performed
as the meth od of choice for further analysis of suspected aneurysms. In th
is report the role of B-mode ultrasound and color duplex ultrasound is disc
ussed in relation to digital subtraction- and MR angiography in confirmatio
n of the diagnosis.