Images in Clinical Medicine

Double Aortic Arch Diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Joachim Lotz, M.D., and Paolo Macchiarini, M.D.

N Engl J Med 2004; 351:e20November 25, 2004

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Article

A six-month-old boy who had recurrent respiratory difficulties was admitted to the hospital with acute respiratory failure that required mechanical ventilation. Echocardiography suggested the presence of a double aortic arch. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of a double aortic arch (Panel A; Ao denotes aorta, E esophagus, and Tr trachea). The trachea and esophagus were seen to run through the vascular ring of the two aortic arches (Panel B). High-grade stenosis of the trachea was identified. Surgical correction was performed, and the left arch was determined to be slightly hypoplastic. This arch was ligated distal to the left subclavian artery. Two years after the surgical correction, the child is doing well.

Joachim Lotz, M.D.
Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany

Paolo Macchiarini, M.D.
Klinikum Hannover Heidehaus, 30419 Hannover, Germany

Citing Articles (2)

Citing Articles

1. 1

   Han Seok Seo, Yong Hyun Park, Ju Hyoung Lee, So Chong Hur, Yu Jin Ko, So Yeon Park, Jun Hwan Kim, Young Jung Kim, So Yon Kim, Nak Hyun Kwon. (2011) A Case of Balanced Type Double Aortic Arch Diagnosed Incidentally by Transthoracic Echocardiography in an Asymptomatic Adult Patient. Journal of Cardiovascular Ultrasound 19:3, 163
   CrossRef

2. 2

   Henryk Kafka, Anselm Uebing, Raad Mohiaddin. (2006) Adult Presentation with Vascular Ring due to Double Aortic Arch. Congenital Heart Disease 1:6, 346-350
   CrossRef