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The Diagnostic Tests

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New Techniques for Thoracic Outlet Syndromes

Abstract

As mentioned in the previous section, not every case of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome shows signs of arterial compression. In a recent study [1] 148 patients were evaluated with duplex ultrasound; when the patients were subjected to routine maneuvers of abduction of the arm to elicit compression of the artery, 51 % of them showed definite arterial compression, while the remaining 49 % did not. Thus, the duplex ultrasound exam done as outlined by Longley et al. [2, 3] is a noninvasive reliable and reproducible test to determine if arterial compression exists. It is an objective test with clear identifiable endpoints which can be accurately reproduced. MRI, CT scan, arteriogram, or EMG tests should not be requested routinely (Fig. 2.1). Clinical evaluation and duplex ultrasound are sufficient to establish the diagnosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    J. Ernesto Molina MD, PhD

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  1. J. Ernesto Molina MD, PhD
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Molina, J.E. (2013). The Diagnostic Tests. In: New Techniques for Thoracic Outlet Syndromes. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5471-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5471-7_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5470-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5471-7

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