Unilateral absence of the thyrocervical trunk with multiple subclavian arterial variations and a suprascapular artery traversing the brachial plexus: a cadaveric case report.
Katherine Asbery, Lauren Ellingham, Arunabh Bhattacharya
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 71-year-old male cadaver exhibited multiple unilateral variations of the right subclavian artery. Notable findings included the absence of the thyrocervical trunk, with the inferior thyroid artery arising from the vertebral artery, and the absence of the transverse cervical artery. The dorsal scapular artery supplied the trapezius muscle, while the suprascapular artery originated from the axillary artery and traversed the brachial plexus, entering the supraspinous fossa beneath the superior transverse scapular ligament.
What made this case unusual
This case presents a rare combination of six distinct arterial variations involving the subclavian artery and its branches, which have not been previously reported together.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should be aware of the potential for significant anatomical variations in the subclavian artery and its branches, as these can impact surgical approaches in the neck and shoulder regions.
Why it matters
Understanding these variations is crucial for surgical planning, as they may help reduce the risk of intraoperative complications during procedures involving the head, neck, and shoulder.