Imaging Assessment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Omid Khalilzadeh; McKinley Glover; Martin Torriani; Rajiv Gupta

doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2020.09.002

Imaging Assessment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Thorac Surg Clin. 2021 Feb;31(1):19-25. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2020.09.002.

Authors

Omid Khalilzadeh¹, McKinley Glover², Martin Torriani³, Rajiv Gupta⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Division of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
² Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Room: GRB-273A, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
³ Department of Radiology, Division of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Room: YAW-6-6048, 32 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Room: GRB-273A, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: Rgupta1@mgh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 33220768
DOI: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2020.09.002

Abstract

Imaging studies play a significant role in assessment of thoracic outlet syndrome. In this article, we discuss the etiology and definition of thoracic outlet syndrome and review the spectrum of imaging findings seen in patients with thoracic outlet syndrome. We then discuss an optimized technique for computed tomography and MRI of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome, based on the experience at our institution and present some representative examples. Based on our experience, a combination of computed tomography angiography and MRI (with postural maneuvers) effectively demonstrate thoracic outlet syndrome abnormalities.

Keywords: Imaging TOS; Neurogenic TOS; Prevalence of TOS imaging finding; TOS; Thoracic outlet syndrome; Vascular TOS.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome* / diagnostic imaging
Tomography, X-Ray Computed