Aberrant right subclavian artery: further observations

One hundred one posteroanterior and 89 lateral chest radiographs were reviewed of patients with proven aberrant right subclavian artery. The patients were 17-96 years old. Three findings were noted on the posteroanterior radiograph: an oblique edge extending to the right from the aortic knob (60%); demonstration of the vessel through the lucency of the tracheal air column (43%) with sharp margins (29%) or as a tubular opacity without sharp margins (14%); and a "mass" effect at the medial right clavicular area (32%). Three findings were noted on the lateral radiograph: retrotracheal opacity (79%), aortic arch obscuration (62%), and posterior tracheal imprint (49%). Two of these findings (tubular opacity and mass effect) are reported as new observations in patients with aberrant right subclavian artery.