A Case Report of Mid-Thoracic Esophageal Cancer Resection with Right Aortic Arch (RAA) Associated with a Vascular Ring

Masayuki Shimoda, Kazuhiko Yamagami, Koya Hida, Ryo Yoshida, Hidekazu Yamamoto, Eiji Yamamoto, Yasuhiko Konishi and Jun Takeda

Department of Surgery, Osaka Saiseikai Izuo Hospital

A 64-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with midesophageal cancer and a concomitant right aortic arch had an aberrant left subclavian artery originating from a diverticulum at the descending aorta. Ductus arteriosus (DA) between the diverticulum and left pulmonary artery oppressed the esophagus, an anomaly known as vascular ring. Left thoracotomy was applied in esophageal resection, starting with division of DA. In our experience, DA encirclement is dangerous because the aortic diverticulum wall is thin, whereas blood flow is detected at the pulmonary DA. It should be stressed that following the left recurrent laryngeal nerve ensures safe indication and division of DA.

Key words
esophageal cancer, right aortic arch, vascular ring

Reprint requests
Masayuki Shimoda Department of Surgery, Osaka Saiseikai Izuo Hospital
3-4-5 Kitamura, Taishou-ku, Osaka, 551-0032 JAPAN

Accepted
December 19, 2003

To read the PDF file you will need Abobe Reader installed on your computer.