Venous thoracic outlet syndrome in the presence of cervical rib: report of two cases.

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a rare condition caused by the compression of neurovascular structures in the region between the neck and chest. The venous form accounts for 2% to 3% of cases, with deep vein thrombosis most often caused by compression of the subclavian-axillary vein segment between the first rib and the clavicle. The occurrence of a cervical rib as a cause of venous deep vein thrombosis is even rarer. In this report, we present the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of 2 cases of venous deep vein thrombosis resulting from 2 different mechanisms. The approach was based on a review of the literature on venous thoracic outlet syndrome and cervical rib.