Color Doppler and duplex sonography in 5 patients with thoracic outlet syndrome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of color Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome. METHODS: We studied color Doppler sonographic findings in 5 clinically suspected cases of thoracic outlet syndrome. The subclavian artery and vein were studied in varying degrees of abduction to assess the severity of the syndrome. RESULTS: Significant changes, i.e., stages of increased velocities, preocclusion, and occlusion in the subclavian artery in varying degrees of abduction, were noted in 4 of 5 cases. Blunted flow in the axillary artery (4 patients) and a rebound increase in velocities on release of abduction were noted in 3 patients. These changes suggested that significant narrowing was causing symptoms. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler sonography is a noninvasive, effective method compared with digital subtraction angiography in the diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome.