McNally P R, Rak K M
Department of Medicine, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado 80045-5001.
Dig Dis Sci. 1992 Jan;37(1):144-9. doi: 10.1007/BF01308358.
It requires a high index of suspicion to make the diagnosis of dysphagia lusoria. Clinically, these adults will present with symptoms of intermittent solid food dysphagia, and a mediastinal abnormality may be seen on chest x-ray. Noninvasive imaging of the chest with either computerized tomography or magnetic resonance scanning are excellent methods for evaluating the mediastinum for solid tumors or vascular anomalies that can cause extrinsic esophageal compression. Dysphagia lusoria caused by a persistence of the right embryologic aortic arch and diverticulum of Kommerell with an aberrant left subclavian artery may be satisfactorily managed by dietary modification when the symptoms are mild.