A heartbeat in the neck: cervical aortic arch with Kommerell diverticulum in an adolescent

We present a 14-year-old female with a history of ventricular septal defect repair who presented with a striking complaint of a heartbeat sensation in the neck and was subsequently diagnosed with a rare cervical aortic arch, classified as Zhong’s B2 and Haughton’s B type, associated with a Kommerell diverticulum. Comprehensive cross-sectional imaging and conventional angiography excluded true and pseudo-coarctation, highlighting the importance of meticulous anatomical assessment in directing treatment and preventing unnecessary interventions in asymptomatic or non-obstructive cases.