Xavier Demondion MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Clément Vidal, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Corinne Gautier, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Pascal Herbinet, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bernard Cortet, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Anne Cotten MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

(1 )To study the subclavian and axillary arterial lumen modifications at different degrees of upper limb elevation in an asymptomatic and symptomatic populations using power doppler imaging and (2) to prove the utility of this technique in the assessment of arterial compression in thoracic outlet syndrome.

45 asymptomatic volunteers and 23 patients with arterial symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome underwent power doppler sonographic examination of their thoracic outlet, arms alongside body and after arm elevation at 90°,130° and 170°. At each compartment (interscalene triangle, costoclavicular space and retro-pectoralis minor space), the cross sectional area of the artery demonstrated by power doppler was measured. Twelve of the patients also underwent a thoracic outlet MR examination after 170° arm elevation. Data from volunteers and patients were analyzed and compared.

The costo-clavicular space was the compartment in which the arterial lumen diminished the most after upper limb elevation in both populations. In this compartment there was a significant difference in subclavian artery cross sectional area between the volunteers and patients at 90°, 130° and 170° upper limb elevation. However some volunteers demonstrated a complete arterial stenosis at 170°, and the most discriminative maneuver between the two populations appeared to be 130° arm elevation. Some significant arterial stenosis demonstrated by power doppler were not shown by MR imaging.

Power doppler examination allows an easy assessment of the arteries in the thoracic outlet and may decrease the number of false negatives obtained with MR Imaging.

Demondion, X, Vidal, C, Gautier, C, Herbinet, P, Cortet, B, Cotten, A, Arterial Power Doppler Assessment of the Thoracic Outlet after Postural Maneuvers in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Population.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4411425.html