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.