Aberrant right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) as a rare cause of dysphagia and dyspnea in a 79-year old women with right mediastinal and retrotracheal mass, and co-existing coronary artery disease

A rare case of a 79-year old women with dysphagia and dyspnea secondary to compression of the esophagus by an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA, A. lusoria) is presented. This abnormality is generally silent and often an incidental x-ray finding. Computed tomography and intraarterial angiography, including direct catheterization of the ARSA, established the diagnosis. The interdependence with a co-existing coronary artery disease is discussed. Thus, ARSA has to be taken into account in patients with abnormal x-ray findings presenting with dysphagia and dyspnea.