Aberrant right subclavian artery: its clinical importance in thoracic surgery

Abstract

Anomalies of the aortic arch include various variations. Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is one of the most common variations in this region, with an incidence of approximately 1% of all population. For this reason, ARSA is accidentally encountered during clinical settings. In 2019, we encountered a case of ARSA during a human cadaver dissection course for medical students at Teikyo University. This cadaver did not have a Kommerell’s diverticulum, which is often accompanied in ARSA. While the present case is a vascular anomaly, it has a clinical relevance because of its topographical nature juxtaposed to the trachea and esophagus.